The Winner
1898
Félix Vallotton captures the chaotic energy of a mob in this striking 1898 print, where a sea of bowler hats and aggressive hands reach over a stark, striped fence. All eyes are on a solitary figure in white, caught in the frenzy of what the title calls 'The Winner.' Vallotton was a master of high-contrast graphics, using bold black shapes to satirize bourgeois society and the sensationalist press of his day. The scene feels like a tense moment at a racetrack or political rally, leaving us to wonder if the 'winner' is actually a hero or a target.