Artwork
La Rafle
La Rafle is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist Théophile Alexandre Steinlen. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La Rafle is a 1893 drawing by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss-born French artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement. Created with brush, black ink, and colored crayon, it depicts a dramatic scene.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows a woman, possibly a prostitute, being taken away by a police officer, surrounded by onlookers. The scene is tense, with the woman in a red jacket and the officer in a black uniform with a red collar, amidst a crowd of men and women in late 19th-century clothing.
Technique & Style
Steinlen used stark black and white with selective color to convey drama. The figures are densely packed, with a city street backdrop featuring buildings and distant people.
Context
Steinlen's work was often politically engaged, and he collaborated with anarchist and socialist publications, reflecting his commitment to social issues.
Artist & collection
Artist
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (November 10, 1859 – December 13, 1923), was a Swiss-born French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker. He was politically engaged and collaborated with the anarchist and socialist press.
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