Steinlen, political lithograph, 1895

Signed original lithograph from 1895 by the French Art Nouveau painter, illustrator and cartoonist Theophile Steinlen (1859-1923) especially known for the iconic "Chat noir" poster.
From the website of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library: "For one soupe populaire (soup kitchen), Batignolle-Epinettes in the 17e arrondissement, fundraising had failed. 'En attendant' accompanied the program of the Concert-Conférence for the closing of the soupe populaire, held at the Concert des Fleurs on Saturday, March 30, 1895. Once again, Marianne (the personification of the French Republic) prominently intervenes in the plight of the city’s poor. Here she actively ladles soup (...) into the waiting dishes held by two children who gaze up into her kind face. This establishment was closing, but clearly Steinlen was arguing that the need for France to continue serving her citizens had not vanished."