Ceux de la priemiere heure. ‘Sire! ou en somme-nous de ‘la guerre fraiche et joyeuse’…’ III c. 1914 - 1919

“Ceux de la priemiere heure. ‘Sire! ou en somme-nous de ‘la guerre fraiche et joyeuse’…’ III” is a poignant charcoal drawing by French artist Jean-Louis Forain, created between 1914 and 1919. The artwork depicts a grim scene of war, with a soldier’s skull lying in the foreground and a soldier’s body slumped over it. The drawing’s simple yet effective style, characteristic of Forain’s work, conveys the tragedy and harsh realities of war. It serves as a reminder of the horrors of the First World War, a conflict that greatly influenced Forain’s artistic production during this period.