General Philippe Petain, commander of the French Second Army, Verdun, France mb-code 1620633 Patterns produced by electrical discharges

Patterns produced by electrical discharges on surfaces revealed by dusting with powdered red lead and sulphur

'The Zeppelin Triumph: Casualty of War'

Blue and grey washes over pencil on paper

smoke and talk

General Philippe Petain, commander of the French Second Army, Verdun, France mb-code 1620633 Patterns produced by electrical dischargesGeneral Philippe Petain, commander of the French Second Army, Verdun, France, 1916. Petain (1856 1951) assumed command of the Second Army manning the front south of Verdun in July 1915. When the Germans enjoyed early success in their assault on Verdun in 1916 General Joffre placed Petain in direct command of its defence, a task which he accomplished to widespread acclaim. In 1918 he was promoted to Commander in Chief of the French Army.