La Gloire 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created "La Gloire" using what looks like graphite and crayon on paper. Created during a time of immense social upheaval and political tension in France, it's hard not to see the impact of events like the Franco-Prussian War on the artist’s vision. The drawing depicts four women in mourning around what is likely the body of a fallen soldier. The title, “La Gloire,” meaning “Glory” in French, creates a bitter irony, contrasting the supposed glory of war with the intimate grief of those left behind. The faces of the women are marked by deep sorrow, each expressing grief in her own way. The presence of a young girl among the mourners underscores the intergenerational impact of conflict, highlighting the loss of innocence. Steinlen's own socialist leanings and focus on the lives of ordinary people, challenges traditional, heroic narratives of war. It's a statement on the profound human cost of conflict, asking us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose are often overlooked in grand narratives of glory.