Les Veuves de Courrieres 1909

"Les Veuves de Courrieres" (1909) by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen depicts a somber scene of women and children huddled together in a shadowy, urban setting. The artist's use of charcoal and a limited palette creates a stark contrast and emphasizes the group's poverty and despair. The artwork, a powerful example of social realism, underscores the hardships faced by widows in early 20th-century France, highlighting the societal injustices and the need for social reform. The image exemplifies Steinlen's artistic approach, known for its focus on the lives of ordinary people, particularly the working class, in a period of significant social and economic change.