The Last Cartridges, from "L'Univers Illustré" 1873

"The Last Cartridges" (1873) by Louis Paul Pierre Dumont depicts a dramatic scene of soldiers defending a building against an enemy attack. The artwork is a black and white wood engraving and features a dynamic composition of soldiers, smoke and debris. This engraving was originally published in the French periodical "L'Univers Illustré" and is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dumont's use of detailed lines to create dramatic shadows adds to the sense of urgency and tension, bringing to life a harrowing moment in the midst of war.