Les Communeux: Types, Caractères, Costumes

Art Historical Context

**Les Communeux: Types, Caractères, Costumes** (1880) is a captivating illustrated book by the renowned French caricaturist Charles-Albert d'Arnoux, known as Bertall, published E. Plon et Cie. in Paris. This compact volume, measuring just under 11 by 9 inches, features vivid hand-colored wood engrav that vividly capture the diverse "types, characters, and costumes" of the Communeux—participants in the Paris Commune of 1871 Bertall, celebrated for his sharp satirical style in publications like *Le Journal Amusant*, brings his keen observational eye to these portraits, blending documentation with subtle caricature. The Paris Commune, a radical socialist uprising crushed in a bloody week of fighting, left a lasting scar on French society. Published nearly a decade later, this book reflects the era's fascination with—and often mockery of—the revolutionaries' eclectic appearances, from bohemian intellectuals to working-class militants. The medium of hand-colored wood engraving was ideal for such detailed, mass-produced imagery; wood engravings allowed fine lines and textures, while artisanal coloring added lifelike vibrancy, making the book both an artistic and historical artifact. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Lincoln Kirstein, 1970), *Les Communeux* offers visitors a window into 19th-century visual journalism. It highlights how illustration served as a tool for social commentary, preserving the Commune's human faces amid political turmoil. A delightful mix of art and history! (218 words)