Skirmish between a Prussian Reconnaissance unit and Advance Troops from Faidherbe’s Army (Amiens, 21 January 1871) (Escarmouche entre une Reconnaissance prussienne et une Avant-Garde de l'Armee de Faidherbe [Amiens, 21 Janvier 1871])
January 21, 1871
![Skirmish between a Prussian Reconnaissance unit and Advance Troops from Faidherbe’s Army (Amiens, 21 January 1871) (Escarmouche entre une Reconnaissance prussienne et une Avant-Garde de l'Armee de Faidherbe [Amiens, 21 Janvier 1871]) by Unknown](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/aic/thumb/skirmish-between-a-prussian-reconnaissance-unit-aic-92229.webp)
Medium
Albumen print
Dimensions
Image/paper: 11.7 × 16.7 cm (4 5/8 × 6 5/8 in.); Mount: 24.1 × 21.2 cm (9 1/2 × 8 3/8 in.)
Classification
photography
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
92229
Art Historical Context
This poignant albumen print captures aish on January 21, 1871, near Amiens, France, between a Prussian reconnaissance and advance troops from General Louis Faidherbe’s of the North. The image documents a tense moment late in the Franco-Prussian (1870–71), as French forces desperately resisted Prussian advances toward Paris. Faidherbe’s campaign aimed to relieve the besieged capital, but this clash highlighted the grueling northern front, contributing to France’s ultimate defeat and the war’s end with the Paris Commune uprising. As an early example of war photography, the albumen print—made by...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...