Marchand de Marrons 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this artwork in France. It depicts a vendor roasting chestnuts on the streets of Paris and is suggestive of the difficult economic realities for many at the time. The vendor, a working-class man who is selling roasted chestnuts from a street stand to a group of children, is portrayed. The artist uses color and shading to create a sense of depth and realism. He also seems to evoke emotion and suggest the conditions of poverty in the French capital. Steinlen made the artwork in a period when there was great social and political upheaval in France, and there was growing concern about the poverty and inequality that existed in French society. So the artwork can be seen as a commentary on these issues. By consulting archives, newspapers, and other primary sources, we can gain a better understanding of the social and political context in which Steinlen created the artwork. Doing so helps us understand the role that art can play in shaping our understanding of social issues.