Le Mirliton, no. 28
Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen
French, 1859–1923
September 1, 1894
A printed page from the satirical Parisian periodical Le Mirliton—with relief halftone illustrations by Théophile‑Alexandre Steinlen—intended to accompany Aristide Bruant’s verse and deliver accessible, streetwise caricature to a broad reading public.
The large, black masthead seizes your attention, then your eye moves to the small, dark, sketchy figures that punctuate the columns of text, their loose, theatrical lines giving the flat sheet a lively, urban rhythm.
This 1894 page shows how fin‑de‑siècle illustrated journals used reproducible print processes to spread popular satire and helped bridge poster art, reportage, and modern graphic design, shaping mass visual culture in Paris and beyond.
Medium
Journal with relief halftone illustrations
Dimensions
page (each): 14 3/4 x 10 13/16" (37.5 x 27.5 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Grace M. Mayer Bequest
Accession
595.1997.170
Palette
Exhibitions
