Rating and value of Théophile Alexandre Steinlen's drawings, posters and lithographs

If you own a work by or after the artist Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, if you'd like to sell your work, we'll direct you to the best possible arrangement to get the best price for it.

Rating and value of the artist Théophile Alexandre Steinlen

Steinlen remains one of the leading French and Swiss representatives of Art Nouveau, whose prolific output abounds on the art market.

He produced drawings, prints, sculptures and paintings that are rated at auction. Today, his works fetch between €10 and €230 000. Painting is the most sought-after category of his work.

In 2007, his oil on canvas Le coup de vent, dating from 1875, sold for €230,000, while it was estimated at between €150,000 and €250,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

The artist's style and technique

Theophile Alexandre Steinlen's style is rooted in the Belle Époque, Art Nouveau and satirical illustration. He blended social realism and graphic poetry, illustrating everyday working-class life, the marginalized, street children, cats and scenes from Montmartre.

His images are imbued with a strong narrative and social dimension, and his works convey a political commitment (anarchism, social criticism, denunciation of inequalities).

His compositions are often centered on the main figure or motif (cat, woman, worker) with a reduced urban context, with a balance between figure and void. He makes notable use of contrast, with flat colored surfaces (in posters), against areas of fine drawing.

He also sometimes employs a " japonisante " aesthetic in some posters, with sharp silhouettes, fluid line and simplified background. Drawing, pastel and charcoal are his preferred techniques for street scenes and portraits.

Color lithography is the main process he uses to produce his posters. He also produces engravings and lithographs for satirical and illustrated newspapers such as L'Assiette au beurre and Gil Blas.

Oil painting is less frequent in his artistic practice, with a few canvases in his output that constitute a secondary technique compared with graphic media. In sculpture, he creates small bronzes, often of cats, to complement his graphic work.

He combines drawing, engraving and color, depending on the project, and adapts his process to the medium (newsprint, poster, book). He uses mechanical prints in posters, with mass reproductions via industrial lithographic processes.

The life of Théophile Alexandre Steinlen

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859 - 1923) was an artist born in Lausanne, Switzerland, into a family of draughtsmen and artists. He initially studied theology at Lausanne University for two years, then abandoned his pastoral project to devote himself to art.

Around 187, he trained in industrial ornamental design in Mulhouse, and worked in a textile factory as a pattern draftsman. In 1881, he moved to Paris with his wife and began his artistic activity in Montmartre.

From 1833, he frequented the cabaret Le Chat Noir, and made contacts with the bohemian milieu (Adolphe Willette, Toulouse-Lautrec), and contributed to the publications of the Chat Noir journal.

His first public exhibitions took place at the Salon des Indépendants around 1893, and he later participated in the Salon des Humoristes, while continuing his publications in the satirical press, sometimes under a pseudonym.

He felt a certain sympathy for anarchism, and created illustrations for libertarian pamphlets denouncing social injustices. He also participated in the Dreyfusard movement.

In 1901, he became a naturalized French citizen. During the First World War, he carried out an artistic mission to the armies, and graphic reports on the conditions of soldiers and civilians, as well as engaged engravings.

Market segmentation and artist's rating

Steinlen's works are positioned in the poster, decorative art, Art Nouveau and graphic illustration segments, and little in the classic pre-war painting market.

His works are sold in France, Switzerland, European auction houses and on the American market for Art Nouveau posters. The secondary market is dominant, with auctions playing a central role in setting the quotation.

The price fractions are significant, with the most famous posters such as Chat Noir forming a high-end segment. 8,084 are listed for the artist's public auctions.

Signed paintings fetch between €200 and €150,000, multiples between €20,000 and €30,000, the same for drawings and watercolors. Bronzes sold for between €400 and €20,000.

Recognizing Théophile Alexandre Steinlen's signature

The artist's pieces are not always signed. Attribution can sometimes be tricky, which is why it's best to have your piece appraised to ensure its originality.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by Théophile Alexandre Steilen, request a free appraisal without further delay via our form on our website.

A member of our team will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you are considering selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price.