Rochefort is dying! Rochefort is dead! 1898

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this lithograph titled 'Rochefort is dying! Rochefort is dead!' at an unknown date. Here we see a funeral procession, but this is no ordinary mourning. Steinlen was a committed socialist, and his art often served as social commentary. This piece engages with the complex history of Henri Rochefort, a figure who was at once a journalist, a radical politician, and a nobleman. Notice how Steinlen groups figures together, creating a stark contrast between the clergy and bourgeoisie at the top of the steps and the common folk in the lower left, some of whom are members of the military. Whose death are we really mourning, and who benefits from it? Steinlen asks us to consider how political figures are elevated, and perhaps more importantly, who is left behind in the process. The power of this image lies in its ability to question the narratives we are told, prompting us to reflect on the social structures that shape our perceptions.