The Bus from Hell to Earth, Peace Day, 1919 1914 - 1924

Georges Tiret-Bognet created this watercolour and graphite work on paper, “The Bus from Hell to Earth, Peace Day, 1919”. It’s a great example of how playful mark-making can create something thought-provoking. Look closely, and you'll see how Tiret-Bognet uses a light, almost transparent wash of colour. The texture is smooth, with no visible brushstrokes, giving it an ethereal quality. The palette is muted, mostly greys and browns with little splashes of bolder hues, contributing to its slightly eerie atmosphere. The figures, a motley crew of historical figures, are rendered with caricature-like strokes, each imbued with its personality. In the background, there's this ghostly figure of Napoleon standing above the sign that reads “Peace Festivities 1919”. It’s both funny and kind of haunting, right? Tire-Bognet’s piece reminds me a bit of James Ensor’s satirical prints, where the macabre meets the mundane. Like Ensor, Tiret-Bognet uses humour to offer a critique of society. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a dialogue across time and cultures, where ideas are constantly being exchanged and reinterpreted.