CHRISTMAS TRUCE

by Richard Taylor

Editions Edition Size US($) QTY
Limited edition 100 $65.00
Collectors edition 25 $185.00
Artist proof 5 $245.00
Remarque 15 $545.00
Double remarque 10 $875.00
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On Christmas Day 1914 British and German soldiers along the Western Front held an unofficial truce. Besides seasonal greetings, knockabout games of football in ‘no man’s land’ replaced the fighting in this brief interlude to the horrors of war.

No one ordered it and none in High Command approved of it, yet as the first Christmas of the war approached it was perhaps inevitable that a mood of goodwill would somehow seep into the war-torn trenches of the Western Front.

It started on Christmas Eve; the plaintive sound of beautifully sung yet somehow familiar carols coming from the German trenches, along which small fir trees had been placed alongside tiny twinkling lanterns. The tunes drifted amidst the snowflakes in the still night air that lay across the bleak, frozen no-man’s land that separated the two opposing armies. The British ‘Tommies’ were quick to respond, shouting back their own messages of seasonal goodwill until somehow – and no one knows just when or exactly how – an impromptu truce was arranged for the following day.

But would it hold?

Dawn on that freezing Christmas morning was met by an uncanny silence along trenches dusted by snow, everyone holding their breath in anticipation of what might happen. And then the first, more adventurous soldiers emerged from both sides, all unarmed as they climbed out of their lines – ‘you no shoot, we no shoot’ came the challenge. It was accepted and small groups of men trudged warily towards each other in the few hundred yards of ‘no man’s land’. Others quickly followed and then they met, enemies standing face to face until someone muttered the first hello, followed by a smile and hesitant handshake. It was Christmas and the ice was broken, photographs taken and small gifts began to be exchanged – a cigarette given here, another returned there, a can of bully beef swapped for a cigar, a bottle of beer for a button for there wasn’t much to offer except the recognition that humanity still existed in this terrible place. Someone from somewhere produced a football and if by magic there was laughter in the all too brief knockabout.

After a few hours it was over but, as the men fell slowly back to their own trenches, many would never forget that Christmas Day when a truce, tolerance and goodwill stopped the fighting – if only for a day.

Completed in Richard’s ‘trademark’ style of graphite, wash and coloured highlights on antique buff paper, this atmospheric piece serves as a lasting tribute to all those who fought in the trenches during the Great War.

The Limited Edition

Restricted to just 100 copies worldwide, every print is issued hand numbered and personally signed by the artist. 

The Matted Collector’s Edition & Artist Proofs

Each print in these restricted editions is mounted to full conservation standards to include reproduction miniature WWI Campaign Medals – The 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, affectionately known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Alongside is the original pencil autograph of a highly decorated World War One veteran who served on the Western Front and received the Military Cross for his actions:

  • Brigadier Sir ALEX STANIER BT DSO* MC

The Matted Remarques

With all components of the Collector’s Edition, Richard will hand-craft an original drawing in the lower margin of each print to create a unique collectors piece. If you have any particular requests, please ask when placing your order and we will do our best to accommodate.

The Matted Double Remarques

Specially created for the serious collector, each print is enhanced with a unique double-size pencil drawing, once again finished in Richard's graphite and paint combination.

 

Overall print size: 12 ½” wide x 14 ¼” high
Image size: 9 ½” wide x 9 ¾” high
Approx. matted size: 14 ¾” wide x 17” high

Media:
Lithograph
Release Date:
12/2022

Editions that feature original and unique artwork, such as Remarque, Tribute and matted editions, are specifically hand-crafted to order. As a result, our normal delivery policies do not apply to these items but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as your drawing is complete. If you have any particular request for your remarque drawing – such as specific aircraft markings – please ask when placing your order and we will do our best to accommodate.

Framing Service available on this item

Interested in having this item framed? Our expert team are on hand to review your bespoke requirements. Simply tick the framing box at the checkout and we’ll contact you to discuss the best framing choices for your piece plus delivery options. For further information about our framing service click here.