The Lantern
1902
This striking 1902 poster by Eugène Ogé is a fierce piece of political propaganda disguised as Art Nouveau art. It depicts a terrifying, bat-winged priest looming over the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, his dark cloak swallowing the hill of Montmartre whole. The bold text 'Voilà l'ennemi!' (Behold the enemy!) and 'Anti-clérical' reveal its aggressive purpose: attacking the influence of the Catholic Church during France's Third Republic. By portraying the church as a literal monster casting a dark shadow over the city, Ogé created a memorable visual weapon in the fierce secular debates of the era.
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