A Soldier for Pétain 1915 - 1917

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this lithograph called, *A Soldier for Pétain* sometime in the early 20th century. You can see how Steinlen really worked the lithographic crayon to evoke a gritty, smoky atmosphere. Look how the strokes build up the figures—a soldier, a woman, and a child—each rendered with heavy, dark marks that convey a sense of weight and sorrow. I can imagine Steinlen bearing down on the stone, channeling his feelings about the war into these dense, emotional lines. The woman's gaze is particularly striking. See how Steinlen captures her weary, haunted expression, which is made more poignant by the child she’s holding. The artist’s able to make simple marks communicate so much suffering and uncertainty! It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz's work; both artists use a similar graphic language to express human suffering. Ultimately, this print is a powerful testament to art's capacity to capture the complexities of human experience during times of conflict.