He Acts Like a Painter 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss-born French artist, created this drawing, titled "He Acts Like a Painter", capturing a scene likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts three well-dressed gentlemen observing a man with a camera, his equipment suggesting the laborious early days of photography. This image speaks volumes about the shifting social perceptions of art and labor in France during this era. The gazes of the men suggest a mixture of curiosity and skepticism towards the photographer, who might have been seen as an outsider to the established art world. Steinlen, known for his socialist leanings, often portrayed working-class life. This work subtly critiques the established artistic circles, inviting us to consider who gets to define art and what labor is valued. To understand this piece fully, one might delve into the history of photography and its acceptance within the artistic establishment, as well as the social and economic contexts that defined class distinctions in France at the time.