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A Visit to the Alpini - 19? by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1
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A Visit to the Alpini - 19? by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1
The war was over some time ago, but this man hasn t heard about it yet, and nobody can get up to tell him. His sniping is therefore very annoying to that Austrian village in the valley. Cartoon by Captain Bruce Bairnsfather in The Bystander, one of a number drawn during his visit to the Italian Front in 1918. This particular illustration, showing a lone Alpini, unaware that the war is over, was considered by the American artist Charles Dana Gibson to be Bairnsfathers finest. Date: 1918
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Media ID 14170716
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Alpine Alpini Alps Amusing Bairnsfather Bruce Mountainous Remote Shooting Sniper Snipers Soliders Solitary
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A Visit to the Alpini - 1918
EDITORS COMMENTS
by Bruce Bairnsfather is a poignant and humorous cartoon depicting the lingering effects of war, as depicted in this iconic image from The Bystander, published in 1918. The scene unfolds in the Italian Alps, where a solitary Alpini soldier, oblivious to the fact that the First World War had ended some time ago, continues his sniping routine. The quaint village in the valley below, seemingly untouched by the chaos of war, is disrupted by the occasional bullet, as the unsuspecting Alpini soldier continues his deadly routine. Bruce Bairnsfather, a British soldier and renowned cartoonist, had visited the Italian Front in 1918 to document the war firsthand. This particular illustration, featuring the solitary Alpini soldier, was considered by American artist Charles Dana Gibson to be Bairnsfather's finest work. The cartoon's humor lies in the contrast between the serene village scene and the soldier's continued aggression, highlighting the disconnect between the battlefield and the home front. The mountainous and remote setting adds to the sense of isolation and the surreal nature of the situation. The Alpini, an elite mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, were known for their exceptional marksmanship and endurance in challenging terrain. In this context, the soldier's continued presence and actions serve as a reminder of the protracted nature of the war and the human cost of conflict. Bairnsfather's "A Visit to the Alpini - 1918" is a powerful and enduring image from the First World War era, offering a unique perspective on the human experience of war and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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