Artwork
La Guerre est déclarée (War is Declared)
La Guerre est déclarée (War is Declared) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
War had started in Europe that year, so the flag likely meant protest, not celebration.
A crowd fills a street in this 1915 woodcut. A man in the center lifts a flag over heads. Dark buildings press close on both sides.
The artist carved this scene from wood. He printed it in black ink on cream paper. War had started in Europe that year, so the flag likely meant protest, not celebration.
Look at how the lines crackle like broken glass. It feels urgent. See it at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Overview
La Guerre est déclarée (War is Declared) is a 1915 woodcut print on wove paper by Auguste Louis Lepère.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a crowded street scene with a central figure holding a flag aloft, likely a protest against the war that had recently begun in Europe. The surrounding buildings loom darkly on either side, emphasizing the tension.
Technique & Style
Carved from wood and printed in black ink on cream-colored paper, the image is characterized by jagged, fractured lines that convey a sense of urgency and turmoil.
History & Provenance
Created in 1915, the print is now held in a museum collection, having been preserved for its historical significance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis-Auguste Lepère (30 November 1849 – 20 November 1918) was a French painter and etcher. Lepère is also considered a leader in the creative revival of wood engraving in Europe.
An Illustration
Marche d'un groupe de prisonniers allemands
Un jour de revue
Femei în sprijinul greviștilor
The Germans Arrive
All right, so he's dead!...
The Burial (Begrabnis)
London Types: Sandwich Man
Untitled
Sheep
Waiting for the Marchioness
War Sketches: The Two Processions (Croquis de guerre: Les deux cortèges – “Ayez pas peur - on les a - et bien!”)