Ton Nez 1896

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing, Ton Nez, using crayon. The image depicts a woman looking apprehensively at a man in a top hat. Made at a time of great social change in France, the artwork presents a scene from everyday life, charged with the tensions of urban modernity. Steinlen was well known for his illustrations in journals that were critical of French society and government. The drawing may reference the social and gender politics of late 19th century France. We might ask, who are these two figures? What is their relationship to one another? The woman looks concerned as she glances at the man behind her. Is the artist critiquing the dangers that women face in this society? As art historians, we look to printed materials like newspapers and journals to better understand the social context of images like this. We can then ask how the artist engaged with the pressing issues of their time.