Interieur tramway 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print called Interieur Tramway, showing a group of people riding a tram. Consider the public role of art here. Steinlen was working in France, a hotbed of new ideas about politics, social class, and the purpose of art. As urban populations boomed, the tram became a powerful symbol. It showed the changing face of the city, as well as the mixing of social classes and the changing role of women in public life. We see these different types reflected in Steinlen's composition. How does he choose to depict them? Is this image conservative or progressive? Does Steinlen critique the institutions of art by focusing on everyday life? As historians, we seek to understand the society that produced this image, and how it reflected social change. We can look at sources like newspapers, political pamphlets, and even fashion magazines to shed light on its meaning.