The Belgian Exodus 1915

Théophile Steinlen's "The Belgian Exodus" (1915) depicts a somber scene of Belgian refugees fleeing their homes during World War I. The artist's use of charcoal creates a sense of urgency and despair, evident in the huddled forms and desperate expressions of the people. This lithograph, now in the Art Institute of Chicago, stands as a poignant testament to the human suffering caused by the war. Steinlen, a noted artist of the Belle Époque, captured the stark reality of conflict through his powerful imagery, making this work a significant example of social realism within art.