Lion 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing of a Lion with ink on paper. The brisk strokes convey a sense of the animal's mass and energy, a quick sketch done with minimal materials. Steinlen was principally known for his graphic work. Lithography was his main medium, a process suited to the rapid reproduction of images for mass consumption. The quick sketch you see here, though not a lithograph, shares lithography’s bold lines and stark contrasts. You could almost imagine it on a poster. The artist became famous for illustrating books and newspapers, and designing posters, particularly those advertising the Parisian cabaret Le Chat Noir. Like his contemporary Toulouse Lautrec, Steinlen blurred the boundaries between art and commerce. This drawing offers a glimpse into the work of an artist who was deeply engaged with the visual culture of his time.