Musica 1908

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created the cover of 'Musica' in November 1908, a monthly publication dedicated to French song from 1870 to the present day. Steinlen, known for his social realism, captures a scene of communal music-making. A man in the foreground plays the guitar and sings, surrounded by women who read from sheet music. This image is striking because it reflects the cultural context of early 20th-century France, where art and music were becoming more accessible to the middle class. Steinlen often depicted the lives of ordinary people, and here, he shows women actively participating in musical culture, rather than being passive consumers. The expressions on their faces and the informal grouping suggests a sense of shared identity and camaraderie. This cover perhaps challenges traditional representations of women as merely objects of beauty, portraying them instead as engaged and expressive individuals. Steinlen invites us to reflect on the democratizing power of music and its role in shaping cultural identity.