Portrait de Poilu 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing, "Portrait de Poilu," with charcoal or a similar dark medium on a light ground. The stark contrast immediately captures your attention, doesn't it? The composition is dominated by the subject's head and shoulders, filling most of the frame. Steinlen uses dense, scribbled lines to build up the forms of the soldier's helmet, beard, and coat. Notice how the helmet's rough texture and the beard's wildness convey a sense of unkempt urgency, reflecting the harsh realities of war. This textural contrast, achieved through the density and direction of the lines, destabilizes traditional portraiture's emphasis on idealized representation. The work invites us to question the relationship between representation and lived experience. The image challenges the fixed meanings of heroism and valor. The formal qualities of the drawing—its raw texture and intense contrast—function not just aesthetically but also as a profound commentary on the human condition during wartime.