Auguste Raffet, Pauvres Enfants!!, Lithograph, 1830s

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Lithograph on wove paper, realized between 1830s and 840s. Signed in the plate. Pronounced foxing across sheet, heavier toward the … Read more Lithograph on wove paper, realized between 1830s and 840s. Signed in the plate. Pronounced foxing across sheet, heavier toward the edges; scattered water stains and one dark spot at lower right; image area retains clarity and contrast despite age-related marks. This deeply moving lithograph by Auguste Raffet portrays a mourning scene on a battlefield, with a cloaked woman standing solemnly amid the fallen soldiers, cradling baskets of food or supplies. Around her lie the bodies of young soldiers, with faint mountain ranges and smoke visible in the background, evoking the aftermath of a bloody engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. Raffet was renowned for his ability to convey both the heroism and tragedy of war. Here, he departs from the triumphant tone of many military lithographs of the era, instead presenting the human cost of conflict with striking pathos and dignity. The work exemplifies Raffet’s masterful draughtsmanship and emotional sensitivity. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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