Volupte 1901

This drawing, Volupte, was made by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss-born French artist. Just imagine the artist with his pencil, his hand moving quickly and confidently, building up the image with layer upon layer of delicate lines. You can almost feel the texture of the paper, the subtle gradations of tone created by the artist's hand. I bet Steinlen was thinking about the quiet moments of domestic life when he made this. The woman, the man, the cat, all together, yet each lost in their own thoughts. There’s something so tender and intimate about this scene. I wonder if the artist knew this family, if he was trying to capture a fleeting moment of connection and tranquility. The way the pencil strokes create depth and shadow reminds me of other artists like Käthe Kollwitz, who also used drawing to capture the human experience. Ultimately, this drawing feels so immediate and alive, and I think it speaks to the timelessness of human connection.