La Chanson Des Poilus 1916

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made 'La Chanson Des Poilus' as a print; it has this urgent, sketchy energy to it. You can see the hand in the making. The texture is loose, almost like a charcoal drawing, but with color. Look at the way the blue and grey washes create depth, making the soldiers seem to emerge from the paper itself. This kind of transparency, where you see the layers building up, is super interesting, it feels like you're witnessing the thought process of the artist. The way Steinlen uses line to define the soldiers' faces is very direct; it captures their weariness, their resolve. It reminds me a little of Kathe Kollwitz, that same commitment to showing the human cost of conflict. With both artists, there's no varnish to hide behind. They both embraced ambiguity, reflecting the complexities of their subjects.