Les Deux Meres 1903

This print, Les Deux Mères, by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, captures two mothers, each holding their child, with a tenderness that feels both intimate and universal. I wonder what Steinlen was thinking as he worked on this piece? There's a quiet dignity in how he renders them. The lines are delicate, like whispers, and the colors—soft pinks, muted greens, and gentle yellows—create a harmonious balance. The texture feels almost like a caress, as if he’s trying to convey the softness of skin and the weight of a small body in your arms. You can sense the influence of artists like Daumier and Toulouse-Lautrec in Steinlen's work, with his focus on everyday scenes and working-class life. Like them, he seemed to be in touch with the quiet moments that make up a life. For me, it's like witnessing a shared human experience—the gentle embrace between a mother and child. It serves as a reminder that art is not only about what we see, but also about what we feel, and the connections we forge through these shared emotions.