Alphonse Eugène Courson (1846–1920) was born in Paris and grew up amid the political turmoil of the Second French Empire. He joined the Army when he was 18 years old, marking the start of a long and difficult military career. In 1867 he fought in Italy, returning with a medal and a good conduct award. He was forced to take up arms once again in 1870 with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War. Following a series of violent clashes, he was taken prisoner in Germany along with tens of thousands of other soldiers.

Upon his release in 1871, Courson returned to Paris and became engaged. He never married, however, and he was called up for military service once again. A few months later, Courson was accused of deserting his post. He handed himself in and was sentenced to three years of hard labour in Algeria, where violence and humiliation were rife. After completing a final tour of duty, he returned to France. There are no records of his whereabouts until a later conviction for vagrancy. During these footloose years, he drew every day.

Most of Courson’s works – likely hundreds of lead-pencil drawings – have been lost. In 1964, a group of 16 pieces depicting densely packed battle scenes and fantastical military