Fermez La Porte 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss-born French artist associated with the realism movement, made this print titled Fermez La Porte. Steinlen's career bloomed during the Belle Époque, a time of vast social and economic changes in France. This image captures a charged moment where class tensions erupt at the doorstep of what seems to be a bourgeois home. On the steps, a well-dressed couple is confronted by a group of working-class figures, one of whom aggressively points towards the house, demanding "Fermez La Porte," close the door. It's not just a physical barrier they want; it symbolizes a rejection of the elite's lifestyle, a barricade against perceived injustice. Steinlen, deeply sympathetic to the plight of the working class, often depicted the stark realities of poverty and inequality. The emotional core of the artwork lies in the juxtaposition of the couple's guarded stance against the palpable anger of the crowd. This scene encapsulates the growing chasm between the haves and have-nots, reflecting a society on the brink of change.