Gossips
1851 to 1875
Medium
black chalk and watercolor
Dimensions
overall (approximate): 38.5 x 32.2 cm (15 3/16 x 12 11/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.8051
Art Historical Context
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen *Gossips*, created between 1851 and 1875, captures the lively chatter of everyday life in a delicate drawing that exemplifies the artist's keen eye for social scenes. Born in Switzerland and later a fixture in Paris's bohemian Montmartre, Steinlen renowned for his empathetic portrayals of working-class people, often infused with warmth and subtle humor. This intimate work, measuring about 38.5 x 32.2 cm, likely depicts women engaged in animated conversation—a timeless motif that reflects the camaraderie of urban neighborhoods during France's transformative Second E...
About the Artist
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, born on November 10, 1859, in Lausanne, Switzerland, hailed from a family with artistic roots; his grandfather, Christian Gottlieb Steinlen, was a painter and draftsman. After two years studying theology at the University of Lausanne, he trained in industrial ornamental drawing in Mulhouse under Schoenhaupt and worked as a designer trainee at a textile mill. Encourage...