He Acts Like a Painter

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen

National Gallery of Art

The image displays three men standing on a cobblestone street, observing a man walking away from them. The men are seen from the waist up, with two of them wearing hats—a top hat and another type of formal hat. They have prominent facial features, including large noses and moustaches, and are dressed in long, dark coats. One man on the right holds a cane or walking stick behind his back. The man walking away wears a wide-brimmed hat, a long overcoat, and carries a pack resembling a painter's easel and canvas. In the background, there is a street with traditional buildings, and a partially visible woman around the corner, possibly holding a parasol, wearing a long skirt and a fitted top, next to a window with shutters. The illustration is in black and white, with strong lines and shading for depth and texture.