The Cry of the Streets! 1894

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen created this lithograph, "The Cry of the Streets!", using black crayon and stumping. The composition immediately evokes a sense of chaos and despair. Figures emerge from what appears to be rubble, their arms raised in anguish, set against a backdrop of a blighted cityscape. The artist uses stark lines and a monochromatic palette to amplify the emotional intensity, drawing us into the raw experience of urban suffering. Steinlen's choice of lithography captures the gritty texture of urban life, enhancing the print’s social commentary. We see a challenge to traditional artistic values through its unflinching depiction of poverty. It’s a visual cry that resonates beyond its time.