On Detrousse Au Coin Des Lois 1898

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen’s “On Detrousse Au Coin Des Lois” was made using lithography, a printmaking technique that allows for a wide range of tonal variation. This particular printmaking process begins with a flat stone or metal plate. The artist draws an image on the surface with a greasy crayon. The stone is then treated with a chemical solution that fixes the drawing. Finally, the surface is dampened with water, which the greasy ink repels, and then rolled with an oil-based ink, which adheres only to the drawn image. The image is then transferred to paper. Steinlen’s lithograph captures a clandestine encounter, perhaps an illicit transaction. The medium itself mirrors this subject matter, as lithography allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive production of images, making art accessible to a wider audience and a perfect medium for social commentary. With its capacity for detail and nuance, this lithograph invites us to consider the darker aspects of society, and the labor and politics behind it.