#08091 Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen

The drawing presents a seated figure rendered in a stark, monochromatic style. The subject appears to be a man, depicted from the waist up, with a bald head and prominent facial features. He is positioned cross-legged on what seems to be a low platform or ground surface. His hands are clasped together in his lap, and his gaze is directed downwards, conveying an impression of introspection or melancholy.
The artist employed dense hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create tonal variations and define the figures form. This technique also contributes to a sense of visual texture, particularly noticeable in the background which appears as a swirling mass of lines. The composition is tightly framed, with the figure occupying most of the pictorial space.
The inscription at the bottom, Le Forcat Yaçoub – Un peu de bonheur et jétais le libérateur du Territoire! (Forcat Yaçoub - A little happiness and I was the liberator of the Territory!), provides a contextual clue to the subject’s identity and potential narrative. It suggests a figure who has experienced both joy and liberation, yet now appears burdened or resigned.
The drawings aesthetic aligns with Expressionist tendencies, prioritizing emotional impact over realistic representation. The exaggerated features and somber mood evoke a sense of psychological complexity. Here we see an individual seemingly caught between past triumphs and present introspection, the swirling background perhaps symbolizing internal turmoil or the weight of memory. The work invites contemplation on themes of loss, regret, and the fleeting nature of happiness.