Le Dernier Salut - Tu t'en iras les pieds devant 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print, Le Dernier Salut, with ink on paper. Steinlen was a Swiss-born French artist, known for his illustrations which often depicted the working class in Paris. Here, two men stand on scaffolding, looking down at a funeral procession. The title, translates to "The Last Salute - You'll leave feet first," offers a sardonic view of death. These construction workers, perhaps temporarily employed to build Haussmann's Paris, pause their labor to observe a somber event, one which acknowledges the great class divide. Their perspective from above speaks to their socioeconomic status, separated from the rituals of mourning. The image captures a moment in time of looking down at the funeral, but the drawing evokes a sense of inevitability. There is a poignant reminder that death is the great leveler, an experience shared across social strata. Steinlen asks us to consider the fleeting connections we share in life and death. This artwork serves as a meditation on mortality and the silent dialogues that unfold in urban life.