Study for the painting 'Departure of the soldiers' (Central group) 1870

"Study for the painting 'Departure of the soldiers' (Central group)" is a pencil drawing by Alfred Dehodencq, created in 1870. The drawing depicts a group of soldiers, likely French, in close proximity, their faces and figures drawn with careful detail. Dehodencq's meticulous linework and the use of chiaroscuro suggest the influence of Realism, a movement that emphasized everyday subjects and the portrayal of social realities. This preliminary sketch likely served as a preparatory study for Dehodencq's larger painting, "Departure of the soldiers," which would have further developed the narrative and emotional impact of the scene.