Evacuees 1915

Curator: Looking at Steinlen's etching, "Evacuees," created in 1915, you immediately feel the weight of the historical moment. Editor: Absolutely, it strikes you immediately. The composition seems claustrophobic, the figures almost pressed together by that stormy, oppressive sky. Curator: Right, Steinlen employs the etching technique to convey not just the scene, but also the immediate circumstances that created such devastation. His choices amplify the overall impact of the narrative, particularly when contextualizing his place in a moment in French printmaking history, the labor that would've taken, and even the consumption of these prints and drawings, they were used in propaganda as well as advertising during wartime. Editor: You're right. Etching was incredibly vital during the World Wars for propaganda purposes; as the war ravaged through Europe the availability and mass consumption of the artwork increased, serving to galvanize local populations into aiding the war efforts at home. Considering Steinlen’s socialist leanings and graphic work, the human toll of conflict would absolutely be front of mind for him. Look at how the weight of their belongings seems to press down on them. Each bag, each bundle signifies a loss – home, possessions, stability. I also appreciate how he renders different generations; we can clearly distinguish mothers from daughters and young children here, evoking feelings of family. Curator: His masterful line work depicts not only the surface details, such as their tattered clothing and weary expressions, but goes beyond that to reflect the weight that they all carry internally. They're displaced. Look at the mark-making around their faces. Each etching shows such depth. Editor: Displacement. Yes, that’s the crux of it. This piece reminds us of the universality of suffering inflicted on civilians during wartime, then and now. The landscape, almost a character itself, hints at a world turned upside down. The looming sky, achieved with incredible textural strokes. It’s a powerful indictment of the systems that create these kinds of human tragedies. Curator: Seeing these individuals stripped of their roots, carrying what fragments of their lives that they could manage... it challenges us to question what gets lost when conflict disrupts societies and to analyze the system as it is presented by him here. Editor: Indeed. A sobering reflection on humanity, isn't it? How art bears witness and perhaps urges us toward empathy and action.