Fillette Au Col Blanc 1898

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print called ‘Fillette Au Col Blanc.’ He was deeply engaged in the political and social issues of his time in France. Steinlen’s images of women and children often depicted the stark realities of urban poverty, and challenged the period’s traditional, idealized representations. In this print, a girl gazes with a quiet intensity, seemingly lost in thought. Her white collar, a symbol of purity and innocence, sharply contrasts with the dark shadows engulfing her figure, perhaps reflecting the tenuous balance between childhood innocence and the harsh realities of the world. Steinlen’s personal politics were socialist, so it is likely he intentionally evokes empathy and concern for the vulnerable subject. Steinlen’s art invites us to reflect on the social conditions that shape individual lives, and to consider the emotional and psychological impact of those conditions, especially on the most vulnerable members of society.