Family lithograph 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this lithograph, titled "Family," without a specified date, inviting us to consider its timeless relevance. Steinlen was deeply engaged with social issues, particularly those affecting the working class in France, so this piece is likely intended as social commentary. The image portrays a family in what appears to be a state of distress. A woman is seated, cradling a child, while another child sits nearby, head bowed. A man lies on a bed in the background, seemingly unwell or exhausted. The setting looks bleak, suggesting poverty or hardship. What strikes me most is the emotional weight of the scene, the quiet despair and the silent endurance of the woman. Steinlen challenges the romanticized portrayals of family life common at the time by presenting a raw, unidealized view of working-class existence, inviting us to confront uncomfortable truths about societal inequality and its impact on the most vulnerable among us. This artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of social and economic disparities.