The Poor People, 1903 (oil on canvas)

Les Pauvres gens (Dummy title) Steinlen, Théophile Alexandre Illustration of poem LXX, X from Victor Hugo's collection "La Légende des Siècles", corresponding to the last line of the poem, in which, after the father decides to raise the two orphaned children, the mother reveals that she has anticipated his decision: "It is the mother, you see, who knocks at our door; let us open to the two children. We'll mix them all together.They'll climb into our laps in the evening.They'll live, they'll be brother and sister to the other five.When he sees that we have to feed this little girl and this little boy with our own,The good Lord will make us catch more fish.I'll drink water, I'll do double duty.That's said. Go get them. What's the matter with you? You usually run faster than that.-Here," she said, opening the curtains, "here they are! Signature - Lower right: "Steinlen 1903". Inventory number: 222