Colloque Nocturne 1898

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print, Colloque Nocturne, using etching. With its stark contrasts and shadowy figures, the scene feels charged with intrigue. Look closely and you'll notice the density of lines. They weren't drawn directly onto the paper, but incised into a metal plate with a sharp needle. The plate was then inked, and the ink captured the fine lines, before being pressed onto paper. Etching lends itself well to capturing the textures and atmosphere of a nighttime encounter. But it is also well suited for mass production; prints can be reproduced many times over. In Steinlen’s era, printmaking was the ideal medium for circulating images quickly. He was deeply engaged with social issues, and his career took off during a time of huge shifts in labor, politics, and consumption. By attending to both the making and the context of “Colloque Nocturne,” we get a fuller appreciation of its enduring power. This work challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.