French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, aka Steinlen was born on November 10, 1859, at Lausanne, Switzerland. 

He studied at the University of Lausanne and after graduation, married and moved to the Parisian Montmartre Quarter. It was here that he befriended the painter Adolphe Willette who introduced him to the artists at Le Chat Noir, that led to his commissions to do poster art for the cabaret owner/entertainer Aristide Bruant. Continuing to live in Montmartre, Steinlen continued to paint, draw and occasionally sculpt, most notably figures of cats which he had a great affection for and often seen in his paintings (as depicted here).

Théophile Steinlen died on 13 December, 1923 in Paris and was buried in the Cimetière Saint-Vincent in Montmartre.  Today, his works can be found at many museums around the world including the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

For further information view the Steinlen site.

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