Inside the Church at Badonviller

War Department · ca 1918

A charcoal, pastel, and watercolor sketch on paper of American troops at a church at Badonviller, France. The church is most likely the Eglise Saint-Martin. Five American soldiers are standing in what used to be the interior of the church. The church has been damaged; battered wrought iron and other debris are lying exposed in the former aisle of the church. An inscription on the drawing reads "The church at Badonviller is situated on a rise of ground and on that edge of the village that is nearest the German lines. It has suffered from bombardment perhaps more than any other structure in the village. This drawing was made from the chancel and looking along the line of the main aisle and through the archway to the front entrance. The building is hopelessly beyond repair."