Le Zeppelin 1915

lithograph, print

lithograph

print

landscape

france

sketchbook drawing

cityscape

Maxime Maufra's "Le Zeppelin," created in 1915, is a powerful black and white lithograph depicting a zeppelin flying over a dark, forested landscape. The aircraft's searchlight, a symbol of the destructive power of war, illuminates the scene with an intense, stark light. The artist's expressive, gestural lines capture the drama and fear of the moment, reflecting the anxieties of the First World War. This print, which is now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art collection, provides a haunting glimpse into the reality of aerial warfare during this time period.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Maxime Maufra was a French Impressionist painter and printmaker active between 1880 and 1918. He first exhibited his work at the Paris Salon of 1886. Though associated with the Nabi movement, his art was closer to that of Alfred Sisley and Camille Pissarro, especially their use of short brushstrokes. Maufra’s simplified land- and seascapes, usually devoid of figures, synthesize strong linear elements, bold colors, and the play of light and shadow. His numerous original prints, include lithographs, etchings, and aquatints. "His Paysages de guerre" (Landscapes of War), portfolio represents a departure for the artist. Produced in response to the terrible events and upheavals of World War I, Le Zeppelin depicts a German military airship on a bombing raid or reconnaissance mission under illumination by searchlights. It is unusual within the larger context of images of warfare; despite the widespread use of zeppelins by the German armed forces during World War I, the subject is rare among depictions of war. Indeed, there are no other images of military zeppelins in Mia's extensive collection of war-themed prints.