André Dunoyer de Segonzac, Préparation d'artillerie, section hors-bois, Lorraine, janvier 1915 (Artillery Preparation, Exposed Section, Lorraine, January 1915), 1915, ink on paper, 21.5 x 30 cm, Musée d'Histoire Contemporaine - BDIC, Paris. © SESAM, Paris, 1998.

The age of artillery 394041 40 - André Dunoyer de Segonzac An example of a sketch drawn at the front. Segonzac (1884-1974) belonged to the group of camouflage artists and so worked on the front line. His sketchbook contains numerous on-the-spot drawings, which he often went back to and completed on his return behind the lines, and annotated in the manner of an autobiographical diary. In order to represent explosions, in the background, he contents himself with smudges and scribbles in ink which look more menacing than mere harmless puffs of smoke. To define his subject he also falls back on words, thereby conceding the inadequacy of just a picture. Jean-Louis Forain worked in much the same way, but preferred to use a stick of charcoal which he crushed on the paper.