Promenade
Original drawing, black crayon, with colored pencil, and ink on tan wove paper.
This preparatory drawing illustrates a poem titled "Promenade" by Louis Marsolleau (1864-1935), which was created to be reproduced and published in "Le Gil Blas Illustré", May 15, 1890 (number 20, second year), see additional image online.
While quick sketches by Steinlen come to market all the time, elaborate drawings like these are scarce. Steinlen sets the scene of the poem, with the most beautiful and elegant couple being gawked at by the "lyceens érotiques" and the "sergents de ville doubles". We are unmistakably in Paris at the end of the 19th century, complete with a horse-drawn omnimbus headed our way, stray dogs in the lower left, and a Morris column in the background. Steinlen even sketches the two chaperones, both wearing top hats and steering the lecherous column of cadets.
Signed in ink.
