Evacuees from Verdun, plate thirty from Actualités Possibly 1916

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this lithograph, "Evacuees from Verdun," as part of his "Actualités" series. Verdun was a strategic site during World War I, and this print captures the plight of women and children displaced by the conflict. The image shows huddled figures, their faces etched with worry, sitting in the foreground, while horse-drawn carts stretch into the distance, conveying the scale of the exodus. The women, possibly mothers and grandmothers, clutch children close, their bodies wrapped in heavy shawls, creating a scene of intimate protection amidst chaos. Steinlen's work often highlighted the impact of social and political events on everyday people, particularly women and the working class. The print evokes both the historical context of wartime displacement, and the timeless theme of maternal protection, offering a glimpse into the gendered experience of war, where women are frequently left to bear the burden of caregiving amidst instability. Steinlen captures a moment of profound vulnerability and resilience.