A fascinating portrait of a young man showing his hand with a miniature "Pickelhaube" on every finger. These pit helmets were characteristic for the German imperial army. At the start of the First Word War this type of helmets from the Franco Prussian war were still in use. The leather Pickelhaube was exchanged for the equally famous but better steel helmet (Stahlhelm).

"Qui n'a pas son petit casque à pointe" is written in pencil on the verso.

Probably this portrait was French propaganda, a bizarre war trophy or war souvenir. An image with avant-garde quality.

citrate print ca. 16,2 x 11,5 cm

France ca. 1915