01 Work, The Art of War, After the Execution (Après l'exécution), cover of Le Mot, vol. 1, no. 5, January 9, 1915, with footnotes

Paul Iribe (French, Angoulême 1883–1935 Roquebrune-Cap-Martin)

 After the Execution (Après l'exécution)

cover of Le Mot, vol. 1, no. 5, January 9, 1915

Color woodcut and letterpress

16 7/16 x 11 x 3/16 in. (41.8 x 28 x 0.5 cm)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Le Mot, a wartime French literary and artistic journal published by Jean Cocteau and Paul Iribe, was characterized by a restrained modernism and a fiercely nationalistic, anti-German perspective. This cover shows a German officer with a smoking gun, his face distorted as he screams at and hovers over the body of a young boy he has killed. Subtitled "an era without pity," the work refers to heinous acts committed by the German army as they invaded Belgium—a neutral country—and northern France in August 1914. Reports of the brutal treatment of noncombatants (such as mass executions that included women, small children, and the elderly) and damage to towns and cultural centers shocked the public, leading to a characterization, particularly within France, of the German soldiers as destructive and uncivilized "huns" particularly within wartime propaganda. More on this work

Paul Iribe was born in Angoulême, France, in 1883. He started his career as a newspaper typographer and illustrator at various Parisians magazines and daily papers, such as Le temps. In 1906 Iribe took part in the establishment of the satirical journal Le témoin. The publication of his illustrations in this journal attracted the attention of fashion designer Paul Poiret, who commissioned illustrations to go with his first dress collection in 1908 immediately. A portfolio under the name Les robes de Paul Poiret racontées par Paul Iribe was published after this in a limited edition of 250 copies.

The portfolio was innovative because of a use of bright, fauvist colours, together with simplified lines and incorporation of Japanese prints. The publication was partially the cause of a revival of the fashion plate in a mordenist style, as a reflection of the new, streamlined silhouette in fashion. In 1911 Iribe was hired by Jeanne Parquin to create a similar portfolio, L'Eventail et la fourrure chez Parquin. Later Iribe became even more involved in fashion an started to design theater interiors, other interiors and jewelry. After a period of residence in New York, Iribe moved back to France where he was awarded La Légion d'honneur in 1933. In 1935, Iribe sadly died of a heart attack in Chanel's villa. More on Paul Iribe

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.