Le Soleil Rouge 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this lithograph, ‘Le Soleil Rouge,’ which translates to ‘The Red Sun’. It shows a crowd of revolutionary figures, some bearing weapons, and a central allegorical female figure leading the charge. Made in France during a period of intense social and political change, we can understand this image as a call for radical change. The 'Red Sun' in the title suggests a dawning of a new era, perhaps linked to socialist movements of the time. The presence of the bare-breasted woman evokes the allegorical figure of liberty familiar from Delacroix's famous painting, and the crowd’s weaponry, such as scythes and pitchforks, imply the participation of working-class citizens in this uprising. Steinlen regularly contributed to leftist journals such as Le Mirliton and L’Assiette au Beurre. As historians, we examine publications like these alongside historical records, political pamphlets, and cultural criticism to get a detailed picture of the values, beliefs, and struggles of the time and to interpret artworks like this one. Only then can we see the image as a commentary on its contemporary society.