L'Exode 1915

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this pencil drawing, L’Exode, in 1915. Look at how the strokes of the pencil are so visible, giving the whole piece a sketched, immediate feel. It's like Steinlen is thinking through the drawing right in front of us. I find myself drawn to the woman at the front; her face seems both weary and resolute. The texture of her dark cloak is achieved with dense, layered lines, contrasting with the smoother, more sparse rendering of the children. This contrast makes me think about the weight of responsibility she carries, both literally and figuratively. See how the background figures are even less defined, almost dissolving into the crowd. Steinlen reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz in his approach, capturing the harsh realities of life with such directness and compassion. Both artists understand that art doesn't always need to be pretty; it needs to be real.