La Grande Guerre 1914-1918 1918

This bronze medal, titled “La Grande Guerre 1914-1918”, was created by Adolphe Léon Willette to commemorate World War I. Willette was a French painter, illustrator, and caricaturist known for his involvement in Parisian artistic circles. This medal encapsulates the complex sentiments surrounding the First World War. One side depicts a woman, possibly an allegorical representation of France, charging forward on horseback, her expression a mix of determination and anguish. The other side shows symbols of French national identity and military strength, such as the fasces and Gallic helmet. The medal offers a narrative of heroism and sacrifice, typical of war memorials. But consider the weight of this object; imagine holding the cold metal in your hand, feeling the figures in relief, and the weight of history. It transforms the grand narrative of war into something personal, a tangible connection to the past, and a reflection on the human cost of conflict.