Artwork
Waiting (En attendant)
Waiting (En attendant) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Théophile Alexandre Steinlen. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss‑born artist who worked in France, produced the lithograph *Waiting (En attendant)* in 1895. Executed as a print, the work presents a dimly lit interior crowded with figures, centering on a mother cradling a child. The title appears at the top, indicating a theme of anticipation or endurance.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a group of people gathered in a cramped space, their postures suggesting fatigue and concern. A central woman, half‑lit, gazes downward while holding a child, evoking a sense of quiet perseverance amid collective hardship. The overall mood reflects the experience of waiting, perhaps linked to social or economic uncertainty.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, Steinlen employed swift, sketch‑like strokes that convey movement and immediacy. The lines are fluid yet rough, characteristic of his Art Nouveau sensibility, while the decorative quality of the contours contrasts with the somber interior scene.
History & Provenance
Steinlen was known for his involvement with anarchist and socialist publications, and this print aligns with his politically engaged output of the 1890s. *Waiting (En attendant)* was produced during a period when he frequently contributed illustrations to radical periodicals, though specific ownership records for the piece are limited.
Context
The lithograph emerges from the late nineteenth‑century French milieu, where Art Nouveau aesthetics intersected with burgeoning social movements. Steinlen’s work often merged decorative design with commentary on the conditions of the working class, situating this image within broader debates on poverty and reform.
Legacy
While not as widely reproduced as some of Steinlen’s poster work, *Waiting (En attendant)* exemplifies his ability to blend stylistic elegance with social observation. The print continues to be referenced in studies of Art Nouveau illustration and the visual culture of French left‑wing politics at the turn of the century.
Own this work as a print
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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