Field Hospital (L'ambulance) 

Alphonse Legros created this print called ‘Field Hospital’ using etching, a printmaking technique, in the 19th century. It depicts the interior of a makeshift medical facility tending to wounded soldiers. The image captures a scene of suffering, where we can see men lying on cots, some bandaged, others in obvious distress. Nuns are attending to the wounded, offering care and comfort. Legros made this print during a period of significant social upheaval in France, marked by political unrest, industrialization, and military conflict. Institutions such as the church were central to social care. In creating this image, Legros’s is offering a commentary on the role of care in response to conflict. Historical sources and archival materials related to wartime medical practices might shed further light on the scene’s representation. By examining the print within its social and institutional context, we can better appreciate its commentary on the human condition.