Two weeks ago, VDP finally visited the museum at Hoche school (read about one of the top schools in France here). The current exhibition is about Versailles, Hoche school and its pupils during World War I. School continued but was partly transformed into one of fifteen military hospitals in the city. These drawings are by Maurice Gruss (below), a former pupil, who died in Douaumont in 1917.
Il y a deux semaines, VDP est enfin allée visiter le musée du lycée Hoche (que VDP vous montrait ici). L'expo actuelle, dans le cadre des commémorations de la grande guerre est prolongée jusqu'à la fin de l'année, est gratuite et fort intéressante sur Versailles et le lycée en 14-18, transformé pour partie en hôpital militaire, comme quinze autre lieux de la ville. Ces dessins, nous les devons à Maurice Gruss (ci-dessous), ancien élève, mort à Douaumont en 1917.
Pupils and wounded...
Elèves et blessés...
...and shrapnel (though VDP is told by Wikipedia that it isn't the correct word...) illustrating the progress of surgery and x-ray techniques during the war.
...et du shrapnel... devant une radio, illustrant les progrès de la chirurgie et des techniques radiologiques pendant la guerre.
War art brings with it a lot of power. Shrapnel is always the term I used.
ReplyDeleteI agree with William, war art does produce very powerful images. Currently we see more photographs than drawings of current conflicts, sadly whether war artist or photographer you are very unlikely to be unemployed...
ReplyDeleteLovely, but sad drawings. I have always heard the term shrapnel too. That old x-ray is interesting to see!
ReplyDeleteLoved going all the way back to 2010 to see the renovation results of the school here Ciel. Wonderful drawings, dreadful circumstances.
ReplyDeleteOh, you were a florist!! Amazing. :)
ReplyDeleteCandid Photographer in Jaipur
All my life I've been a florist. Love this spam...
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of the drawings, very evocative. I am sure our younger generations will look back on today's wars and think the same things we are thinking now...
ReplyDeletePS: Glad to see you've made a career change into floral arts. :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing drawings, makes you think.
ReplyDeleteThe sketches are brilliant. The x-rays must have been a miracle back in those days.
ReplyDeleteImpressive drawings, interesting exhibition.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an interesting place to visit. Mr. Gruss has left behind a beautiful legacy of drawings.
ReplyDeletewhat a treasure trove ... a glimpse into the past ... thank you
ReplyDeleteSuch horrible times those were.
ReplyDeleteWhy is shrapnel not the correct word? Wikipedia isn't always right.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. that shrapnel is pure nasty stuff.
ReplyDeleteMB
Why, ciel, why?
ReplyDeleteA tough exhibition to see.
ReplyDeleteI wish humans would learn from the past, which is what I assume these exhibitions are meant to do.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post. WWI was such a terrible war in terms of pain and suffering (well, I guess not any worse than WWII or other wars), and the artist captured all of that very well. I'll bet the walls of that school could tell many incredible stories!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting exhibition.
ReplyDeleteLiving where I do, it is extra hard for me to stomach exhibits or films about the wars.
ReplyDelete