226 - Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen (1859–1923)

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen (1859–1923) Cent Millions, 1894 Original lithograph, hand-colored using a stencil, deluxe edition published by Édouard Kleinmann, Paris. Monogrammed “P. P.” (Petit Pierre) in the stone, as issued; not hand-signed. This print bears the dry stamp of the publisher Éd. Kleinmann (Lugt 1573) but no number in pencil—apparently outside the numbered edition of 100 prints (of which nos. 61–100 were colored by stencil); Crauzat lists an unnumbered proof in the margin of the numbered edition. Dimensions: Sheet: 45 × 41 cm — 17 ¾ × 16 ⅛ in. Image size: 30.8 × 29 cm — 12 ⅛ × 11 ⅜ in. Condition: Very fine condition; unframed. References: Crauzat, 140 A plate from the famous series of political lithographs created by Steinlen for *Le Chambard Socialiste*, an anarcho-syndicalist weekly to which he contributed from the very first issue, in December 1893, until July 1894. To protect himself from prosecution at the height of anti-anarchist repression, Steinlen signed these biting social satires with the pseudonym Petit Pierre—hence the “P. P.” monogram on the stone. Reproduced in color on the front page of *Le Chambard Socialiste* No. 11, dated February 24, 1894. Alongside the newspaper’s regular print run, the publisher Édouard Kleinmann released a deluxe edition of each plate, identifiable by its dry stamp. These lithographs from *Le Chambard*, in which Steinlen’s compassion for the working class finds its most militant expression, have been compared to Daumier’s great political prints. Original period print, 1894, deluxe edition hand-colored according to a stencil, published by Éd. Kleinmann.