In the Rain: Mother and Children (Sous la pluie: La mere et les enfants) 1915

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss-born French artist associated with the realism movement, created this etching, titled, In the Rain: Mother and Children. Steinlen's work often reflects his socialist leanings and empathy for the working class in France at the turn of the century. Here, we see a mother and her children trudging forward against the elements, each carrying a sack, suggesting they are refugees or migrants. The landscape is desolate, the trees bent by the wind, reflecting the hardship and uncertainty of their journey. Steinlen’s choice to focus on the emotional and physical toll on the family, rather than a sentimental depiction, amplifies the themes of resilience and the shared experience of those marginalized by society. While the work echoes traditional representations of motherhood, it adds a layer of social commentary, drawing attention to the socio-economic conditions affecting women and children in France.