Several of Steinlen's posters have become the most famous poster images ever created. He became extremely well known during his life with his contributions to Parisian humour magazines including Le Rire and "Gil Blas."

"The years around the turn of the century in Paris were the great periods of the 'artist-reporter' those painters who found their inspiration in the events of every-day life. One of the very greatest of these was Steinlen. With an eye for movement and gesture, with the ability to translate the scenes of the cafes, bars and street corners into pictorial composition, in his drawings he created a pattern of expressive shape, swift shading and telling details of facial expression which is redolent with the whole atmosphere of the period. Much of his strength and effectiveness of his work derives from the fact that, like Daumier, he was able to combine a clear sense of style with humour and social understanding " (Weston No.5 1984, 28)