[Reunion at the train station]

Place Europe: France, Champagne-Ardenne
Accession Number ART93070.024
Collection type Art
Measurement sheet: 17.7 x 25.5 cm
Object type Work on paper
Physical description black pencil on cartridge paper
Maker Prangere, Paul
Place made France
Date made 1916
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Depicts the protagonist on the platform of a train station. He appears to have just stepped off the train, and is waving to his wife She is waving back to him, and is elegantly dressed in a high-necked dress, and a fine hat with a feather in it. Their dog runs towards the protagonist, excited to see him. The train is full of military men. In the foreground is a crate with the word 'FRAGILE' written on it. On the extreme right is a soldier walking with his back to the viewer, smoking a pipe and holding a cube shaped container.

Sketchbook belonging to Paul Prangère. Found on the WWI battlefields in France by Private Charles Edward Goldspink M.M., 17 Infantry Battallion. Depicts life in the trenches during the first two costly battles of Champagne. The first battle took place between 10 December 1914 - 17 March 1915 and 90,000 French were injured. The second battle occurred between 22 September 1915 - 6 October 1915. It probably does not depict the thrid battle of Champagne (16 - 20 April 1917) because Prangere states the date of creation as being 1916. Many of the illustrations are of a jovial and gentle life in dugouts. The second half of the sketchbook portrays the soldier on leave with his wife or girlfriend after being injured. Despite the grim nature of life in the trenches, the artist largely portrays a lyrical existence, with his simple and humourous illustrative style anticipating Hergé's Tintin (which was first published in 1929).

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