Chat Noir/Ce Soir

1896

15 ¾ X 24 3/8 in.
40 X 61.8 cm

Despite the delicate red halo behind him, this disreputable cat of Steinlen's personifies vagabondage; he's a ragamuffin, a Paris street urchin up to no good, and as such, he represents the deliciously low-class atmosphere of the Chat Noir cabaret with deadly accuracy. No wonder this memorable image was used in a dozen ways over a number of years by the management; they would have been fools not to give it every circulation possible.

Reference: Bargiel et Zagrodzki, 22B2