Woman Fixing Her Hair, Three-Quarter View 1902

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen sketched "Woman Fixing Her Hair, Three-Quarter View" with pencil and crayon, capturing a private moment of self-care. The act of arranging hair is laden with symbolism, a ritualistic gesture seen across time and cultures. Consider Botticelli's Venus, emerging from the sea, wringing out her hair, a symbol of beauty and rebirth. This simple act transcends mere vanity; it is a potent expression of identity and transformation. The gesture has recurred throughout history, evolving and adapting, yet always retaining a core association with femininity and renewal. Perhaps, subconsciously, we recognize this act as an assertion of self, a daily ritual of becoming. This seemingly simple pose conveys an emotional depth, touching on universal themes of identity, beauty, and the cyclical nature of personal transformation.