THÉOPHILE-ALEXANDRE STEINLEN (1859-1923) [LAIT PUR STÉRILISÉ.] Proof before text and letters. 1896. 55x38 1/2 inches, 139 1/2x98 cm. Condition C+: heavy creases, losses, repaired tears and time-staining in margins and image. Signed by artist in orange crayon and numbered N. 3 in pencil. This is a previously unreferenced variant of Steinlen's most famous poster. Like Toulouse-Lautrec, Steinlen favored the use of an olive green outline for his images instead of black. Had this one-color version been printed to be sold, there would certainly be a record of its existence. Without that record we can only surmise that it is likely from a run of 5 or 10 that Steinlen had pulled from the presses and which he signed as gifts for either people at the printing plant or maybe the clients themselves. very rare
![THÉOPHILE-ALEXANDRE STEINLEN (1859-1923). [LAIT PUR STÉRILISÉ.] Proof before text and letters. 1896. 55x38 inches, 139x98 cm.](https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/full//787\633787.jpg)
