- Oh!. mon ami.., j'ai peur de ces gens-là!... - Tu as raison, ils sont très méchants... ils battent les femmes et ils leur font des noirs!..
Title (alt.):
- Oh!.. my friend..., I am afraid of those people there!..... - Rightly so, they are very wicked..... they beat their women and make them black!.... Charivari
Description:
A Zouave soldier tells a Frenchman that he is afraid of the French people who are standing around gaping at him. The Frenchman says the soldier should be afraid, because the French people beat women and turn them black and blue. In 1859 the French army had defeated the Austrians at Solferino. The troops returned to their camps (bivouac) at St. Maur near the bois de Vincennes. The dark skinned “Turcos”, who were of Algerian origin, as well as the white skinned “Zouaves”, had fought extremely well and were cherished by the inhabitants of Paris. The Charivari published numerous lithographs during this period showing how the bourgeoisie visited the exotic soldiers in their camps at St. Maur. ZOUAVES, TURCOS. The Zouaves were white French soldiers, whose regiments had fought together with the Chasseurs d’Afrique and the Spahis in Northern Africa. Their exotic uniforms were adjusted to the African climate and caused great admiration in Parisian society. The Turcos however were a purely North African troop, mainly consisting of Algerians and also wearing quite exotic, colourful outfits. These battalions were highly successful during the war against Austria and later again during the Crimean war. The name “Turcos” is actually a misinterpretation. The Russians, during the Crimean war, when seeing these soldiers in their colourful African uniforms mistakenly identified them as “Turcos” (Turkish troops). The name thus remained, although these soldiers were of Algerian nationality.
Copyright restrictions may apply. For permission to copy or use this image, contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries. The following credit line must be included with each item used: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman Collection of Honoré Daumier Lithographs, Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.
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Place of origin:
Paris
Notes:
2nd state.
Published in: Le Charivari, August 30, 1859.
Notes (acquisition):
Donated by: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman, 1959.
