Misere et Splendeur 1908

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print using lithography, a process where an image is drawn on a stone or metal plate and then printed. It’s a technique that democratized image-making, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Looking at the artwork, you can see how the lithographic process lends itself to social commentary. Steinlen skillfully uses the medium to highlight the stark contrast between the opulent building in the background and the impoverished figures in the foreground. The grainy texture, achieved through the lithographic process, emphasizes the destitution of the figures, drawing our attention to their worn clothing and weary expressions. This image is a statement about social inequality and the ways in which labor and class divisions are visually manifested in society. Steinlen challenges the traditional art world by using his craft to depict the realities of everyday life, urging us to consider the social context in which art is made and consumed, breaking down the perceived boundaries between fine art and the lives it represents.