Galerie Dewambez 1909

This lithograph, printed in 1909, promotes the Galerie Dewambez. Look at the density of marks Steinlen used to create the image. See how they cluster together, forming shadows and volume, but remain distinct? Up close, you can really see the individual strokes and the texture they create. There is no real blending here, which is interesting. It’s almost like he’s building up the form out of pure energy. The way he uses the lithographic crayon reminds me of Seurat and his pointillist paintings. There is a similar sort of all-over-ness that creates a sense of vibration. Even though the palette is monochromatic, the tonal variety is incredible. I see connections between this and the work of Toulouse Lautrec, who also made lithographic posters around the same time. But Steinlen has a rougher, more immediate feel. His work seems more aligned with the quickness of the sketch. It’s like he is capturing a fleeting moment in time.