Le Petit Sou Poster

France, c. 1900

79 x 38 in (201 x 97 cm)

ID #ROLLDOWNSTRS405-Z-05

Vintage French poster for the worker's daily paper Le Petit Sou (The Little Penny). The paper makes its political bent clear: it is a "journal de defense sociale" (newspaper of social defense). The poster illustration is amazingly lyrical, its themes and composition evoking those of Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People. Here Marianne, France's female symbol of Liberty, leads the workers up in a rebellion against the powers of the state. She directs them to destroy Sacre Coeur, the new Bastille, and raises up broken shackles in her hand to represent the workers' soon-to-be-had liberation. 

"Le 4 Septembre paraitra Le Petit Sou. Journal de defense sociale et d'informations rapides. Paraissant a 3 heures. Directeur: Alfred Edwards. Leaders: J. Allemane, P. Brousse, Jules Guesde, L. de Gramont, P. Lafargue, Laurent Tailhade, Vaillant, Rene Viviani." (On September 4, Le Petit Sou will be published. Newspaper of social defense and rapid information. Appearing at 3 o'clock.)

Artist: Theophile Alexandre Steinlen

Printer: Charle Verneau, Paris

Year: c. 1900

Condition: Good, please note some wrinkling along the top border

 

Please note the poster is linen-backed on thin canvas

1000-2500 antique poster bastille france french french poster journal left wing liberty marianne newspaper original poster political propaganda rebellion revolution sacre coeur shackles size-79x38 socialism toc turn of the century vintage poster workers

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