Les Deux Meres 1903

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print of two mothers, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. The lines are so delicate, like a quick sketch, but then he layers in these soft, almost watercolor-like washes of color. It gives the image a feeling of tenderness, like a memory fading at the edges. The way the colors overlap creates a subtle texture. Look at the skirt on the right – the way the green dots float on top of the darker gray. It’s not quite a pattern, but it’s more than just flat color. And the way the pink of the child's dress on the left bleeds into the mother’s hair, it’s like he’s capturing the way motherhood blurs the edges of individuality. Steinlen was doing posters and illustrations, a bit like Toulouse-Lautrec, but he also had this real empathy for everyday people. This feels a bit like a Degas, capturing intimate moments, but with a more human touch. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be loud to be powerful.