Conversation n.d.

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen’s print, ‘Conversation,’ captures a fleeting moment using lithography, a printmaking technique that embraces the beauty of the everyday. Steinlen drew directly onto a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, allowing for a wide range of tonal variations. This directness gives the image an intimate, almost sketch-like quality. The grainy texture of the lithographic crayon creates a sense of atmosphere. The artist uses the technique to depict a street scene, complete with fashionable figures and horse-drawn carriages, perhaps alluding to the social stratification of Parisian life. There’s an immediacy to the scene, as though we’re eavesdropping on a private exchange. The print hints at the labor involved in producing luxury goods, such as fine clothing and transport, and the economic disparities inherent in urban life. By using a commercial printmaking process, Steinlen democratizes art, making it accessible to a wider audience while also commenting on the society that consumes it.