Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen (1859-1923)
The Centenary Exhibition.

A common thread emerges from his highly prolific body of work: his commitment.
The artist consistently linked art and politics, serving as a critical observer of his era. Steinlen seamlessly transitioned his motifs from one medium to another, ranging from illustrated publications to book art, from posters to paintings. His primary subjects included both human beings and cats, the latter serving as a whimsical but distinctly enigmatic animalistic counterpart. He also delved into classical genres of painting, particularly nudes and landscapes. Suspicious of artistic dogma, Steinlen firmly believed in the social and political mission of art, viewing it as a means and a voice for a better world.

Structured along a chronological and thematic path, the exhibition retraces Steinlen’s career and provides insight into the diversity of his work through a selection of around a hundred pieces. This includes a substantial number of oil paintings, which are less known than his graphic work, also well-represented in the exhibition, along with sculptures.

The exhibition’s organization revolves around the theme of social art and is divided into three main movements: Montmartre and the Chat Noir; the people as both the subject and objective of art; and finally, the interplay between historical painting and intimate nudes, all within the context of a political vision of art.

Exhibition curators

Leïla Jarbouai, chief curator, graphic arts and paintings, Musée d’Orsay
Saskia Ooms, former head of conservation at the Musée de Montmartre