France 20th century

Ils ne passeront pas

They shall not pass

1916

plaster

fragment

Acc. No.: 1941.7.42

Photo credit: ph. Laure de Margerie, 28 avril 2017

© Artist : public domain

© Artist : public domain

Goldendale, Washington, Maryhill Museum of Art

www.maryhillmuseum.org

Related works

• Other copy at Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA.

Comment

• It is about Maréchal Pétain’s supposed order to Joffre (see Wikipedia: Although Pétain did say "On les aura!" (an echoing of Joan of Arc, roughly: "We'll get them!"), the other famous quotation often attributed to him – "Ils ne passeront pas!" ("They shall not pass"!) – was actually uttered by Robert Nivelle who succeeded him in command of the Second Army at Verdun in May 1916.)

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