Homage to Zola c. 1902

Editor: Here we have Théophile Alexandre Steinlen's "Homage to Zola," created around 1902. It's a lithograph, drawing, and print on paper. I'm immediately struck by the figure emerging from a mass of bodies... what kind of statement do you think Steinlen is making here? Curator: Steinlen's "Homage to Zola" is deeply intertwined with the political and social turmoil of early 20th-century France, especially the Dreyfus Affair, in which Zola famously intervened. Consider the historical context. Zola's "J'Accuse…!" was a watershed moment. Who does the central figure remind you of? Editor: I hadn't thought of that! I guess it could be a representation of Justice, but why are there so many figures at the bottom of the drawing? Curator: Precisely. It can be read as Justice emerging from or being supported by a sea of people – the oppressed, the working class, the victims of injustice, while representing a society emerging from conflict into some sort of harmony. Doesn’t that provide a potential insight into the function of symbolism during periods of strife? Editor: It does, especially how symbols and allegories serve a valuable tool during tumultuous times to convey sensitive sociopolitical statements without explicitly doing so. Thank you for helping me unpack all those symbolic nuances. Curator: You’re welcome. It shows how art is deeply embedded in societal complexities. It prompts us to analyze history through an intersectional lens.