The Dispatch-Bearer 1880

Alphonse de Neuville's "The Dispatch-Bearer" (1880), currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures a tense moment during the Franco-Prussian War. The scene depicts a group of Prussian soldiers, some relaxing at a table, while others interrogate a captured French civilian. The painting, noted for its detail and realism, serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. De Neuville's focus on the individual's experience within the larger historical context makes this a compelling piece of military art.