Général Ulrich
1971
Edmond Morin’s dramatic engraving centers on the stern profile of General Ulrich, a military commander during the Franco-Prussian War. The general looms large against a backdrop featuring the iconic spire of Strasbourg Cathedral, while allegorical female figures hover above, offering laurel wreaths and a shield in a gesture of triumph. Beneath this heroic portrait, however, lies a scene of chaos: figures are scattered among rubble and open books, with a figure wielding a hammer, likely symbolizing the destruction of Strasbourg's famous library during the 1870 siege. Although the provided date says 1971, this style and subject matter firmly place it in 1871, capturing the complex mix of military honor and cultural devastation of that era.