| Title: |
La Securite des Rues (The Street Security) |
| Artist: |
Steinlen, Theophile Alexandre (Paris, 1859 - 1923) |
| Date: |
1894 |
| Medium: |
Original Lithograph |
| Publisher: |
Edouard Kleinmann, Paris |
| Note: |
Theophile Alexandre Steinlen 'Theophile Steinlen': A major artist of the
French Art Nouveau era, Theophile Alexandre Steinlen came to Paris from
his native Switzerland at the age of twenty. Mainly self-taught, he quickly
established himself as a leading illustrator of popular journals such
as Le Rire. He also contributed a large amount of drawings and lithographs
to the radical press publications, Pere Peinard, Les Temps Nouveaux
and La Chambard. In order to avoid political repercussions for
some of his art dealing with strong social content he often employed pseudonyms
such as, 'Treelan' and 'Pierre'. |
| |
Theophile Alexandre Steinlen's contributions to the Socialist journal, La
Chambard, were particularly influential. He was a regular artist for
this publisher during the years of 1893 and 1894. His lithographs were
reproduced upon thin newsprint in the journal by photography and typography
with added captions. In the case of La Securite des Rues, (published
May 5, 1894) the title appeared in the upper right corner with the following
caption in the lower right corner; "Grace a l'attitude pacifique de la
Police, le Premier Mai s'est passe sans incidents". With his bullying
demeanor and all too obvious pistol this officer of the powers that be
will make sure that no unsightly demonstrations of the poor and oppressed
will take place during May Day celebrations. |
| |
Some of Theophile Steinlen's most famous lithographs from Le Chambard
were published in limited editions of one hundred impressions on high
quality paper by Kleinmann in Paris. From 1893 to 1895 this publisher
also commissioned lithographic art from Toulouse-Lautrec, Cheret, Forain,
Grasset, Vallatton and others. Most of the original lithographs published
by Kleinmann bear his blindstamp and publication number in red pencil
in the extreme lower left margin. As this impression of La Securite
des Rues lacks these features it may either be a proof impression
or a previous owner has cropped the lower margin. As the margins are quite
wide and as this is a very strong impression I would suspect it is a printer's
proof before publication. This possibility is further suggested by the
fact that on this impression Theophile Steinlen's 'Pierre' monogramme (the double
P within a circle) appears twice; both in a darkly printed smaller version
to the lower left and in a larger faded version directly above it. In
the published, blindstamped edition this second faded monogramme was probably
effaced. |
| |
In total, Theophile Alexandre Steinlen created 382 original lithographs and
115 etchings. La Securite des Rues ranks among his most famous.
The contrasts produced by the crowd of poor men, women and children in
light gray in the background with the darkly printed, well fed officer
fully equipped with his gun and brass knuckles in the foreground has assumed
almost mythic proportions. Only a master such as Theophile Alexandre Steinlen could convey
these social contrasts with such sure handed simplicity. Such fine imagery
and stylistic devices as this proved to be the prototype for many works
of social art during the twentieth century. |
| |
In the 1890's Theophile Steinlen's wonderful use of line and design
led to some of the most famous posters of the Art Nouveau movement. These
include, Tournee du Chat Noir (1896), La Rue (1896) and
Lait pur Sterilise (1894). Yet the majority of his great art continued
to explore the hardships of the poor and humble. Known as "the Millet
of the Streets", Theophile Steinlen's influence was vast. Among other artists both
Toulouse-Lautrec and the young Picasso paid direct homage to his art. |
| Reference: |
Ralph E. Shikes, The Indignant Eye: The Artist as Social Critic, Boston, Beacon Press, 1969, pp. 226 - 232. |
| |
La Securite des Rues (the journal version with captions) is reproduced on p. 228. |
| Raisonne: |
Ernest de Crauzat, L'Oeuvre Grave et Lithographie de
Steinlen, Paris, Societe de Propagation des Livres d'Art, 1913 (Reprint,
1983). |
| |
Catalogue: Crauzat #149, First and only State as published by
Kleinmann in the Limited Edition of 100 Numbered Impressions. As Discussed Earlier,
this is probably a Proof Impression |
| Size: |
14 X 12 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
| |
Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| Buy Now |
Price: $525.00 US |
| Condition: |
Printed upon sturdy wove paper with large margins as published
in Paris in 1894. Lacking Kleinmann's blindstamp and his red pencil number
in the lower left corner. Signed by Steinlen with his pseudonym monogramme
within the image twice. A beautifully printed and strong impression of
this scarce Steinlen lithograph and in excellent condition throughout.
La Securite des Rues (The Street Security) is deservedly one of the most famous examples
of the influential art of Theophile Alexandre Steinlen. |
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