Aux Vrais Pauvres- Les Mauvais Riches 1895

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this lithograph, ‘Aux Vrais Pauvres- Les Mauvais Riches’, which translates as ‘To the truly poor - the bad rich’, in France at the turn of the twentieth century. This was a time of great social upheaval and economic disparity. The image shows a stark contrast between the impoverished masses and a ghostly, doll-like figure in the background, suggesting a critique of the wealthy elite who may be oblivious or indifferent to the suffering around them. Notice the heavy lines and dark tones which create a sense of oppression and hardship for the figures on the left. Steinlen's work often reflected his socialist sympathies. Prints like these would have been widely circulated, and often featured in political journals, serving as a powerful form of social commentary and dissent. To understand this image, we need to consider the social and political context of France at the time, researching the history of socialist movements, the rise of mass media, and the role of art in shaping public opinion. This image provides an important contribution to understanding the complex social dynamics of its time.