Trois Baigneuses 

Editor: So, here we have Steinlen's "Trois Baigneuses," made with ink on paper. It has such an intimate, almost secretive feeling. It feels like stumbling upon a private moment. What strikes you most when you look at it? Curator: The dappled light filtering through the leaves, wouldn’t you say? It creates such a sheltered space, like a hidden glade. Steinlen's choice of ink – it gives it this feeling of both fleetingness and permanence. Does the roughness of the style add to this intimate feeling, in your opinion? Editor: Yes, absolutely! The roughness, the visible strokes of the ink, contribute to that sense of intimacy. Curator: The poses of the figures, relaxed yet contained... There's an everydayness to it, despite the classical subject. Like we've interrupted a moment of private reverie, under the guise of nature, away from prying eyes. Editor: I also notice the contrast between the delicate figures and the more frantic linework in the foliage. What do you make of that contrast? Curator: Good eye. I wonder if it suggests the enduring power of nature contrasting with the ephemeral quality of human experience? Or perhaps Steinlen simply delighted in rendering the chaotic beauty of the natural world. Makes you wonder about what lies beneath the surface calm. Editor: That’s such a fascinating interpretation! Curator: The best art always gives more than it takes. So, what have we taken from Steinlen today? Editor: I never thought about genre scenes portraying a real moment and how a technique could portray such complex ideas. Curator: And I've a new appreciation for fleeting encounters in shaded groves, ink permitting!