Soldat et Infirmiere 1916

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen drew this sketch, Soldat et Infirmiere, using charcoal on paper. Look at the way the charcoal almost crumbles to make the image. I can imagine Steinlen in his studio, working this up quickly, his focus captured by the figures and faces that emerge from the shadows. It’s fascinating to think about how the artist decided what to define with sharp lines and what to leave to suggestion. The smudged charcoal creates a sense of atmosphere, like a fog is rolling in. See how the white of the paper is as important as the dark marks of the charcoal? The highlights bring the figures to life, giving them form and presence. This piece reminds me of the work of Kathe Kollwitz, another artist who used charcoal to depict the emotional toll of war. Artists are always talking to each other across time through their work, and maybe, in some alternate reality, these two had a chance to meet and discuss their drawings. In the end, the drawing expresses a feeling more than conveying a fixed idea, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between those who serve and those who heal.