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"Don't waste those shells..." (Interview with my concierge, La Baïonnette, November 21, 1918) - Hervé Baille

Date :
1918
Type of image :
Aquatinte, Mezzotinte
2014-10797
Signed work

Description

As the armistice approaches, the concierge gives the soldier on leave some advice on how to end this war sooner rather than later. We need to give them a good kicking, but not exterminate them all, as there must be some left to pay us war damages. And above all, no Franco-German children!

On the 1st line, the concierge's advice. On the 2nd line, German cannon against French cannon. On the third line, the carnage and desolation of the battlefield. On the right, the concierge, astonished that anyone would look at her: on the wall, the portrait of her husband who has gone to the front.

Despite the cheery tone of the text, which prepares for victory, the image insists on the desolation and absurdity of war.

History :
  1. Signed at the top of the 3rd row of drawings in the center "Hervé Baille".
    Legend:

Don't waste those shells
And always hit them on target.
For if you kill them all
There'll be no need to froth at the mouth!
But especially if we're going to Deutschland
Don't give them grandchildren!!
(And my concierge, get the hell out!)

Technical Data

Notice #024642

Image HD

Image editing :
Image web
Image Origin :
Bibliothèque numérique Gallica, Bibliothèque nationale de France (https://gallica.bnf.fr)
Bibliography :
Nicolas Bianchi, De la caricature de guerre au roman national, Numéro Illustrer le roman national, 2025