EVRARD, E. - Le plan Trochu.

Lithography showing a map of France with a caricature of General Trochu and other scenes imposed on it. Designed by the French caricaturist Evrard, Emile , with his initials lower left. Printed and published by E. Carayon in Paris.

Extremely rare colour lithographed plate published in "Le Lampion N°.1".In August 1870, an inevitable succession of defeats put the Second Empire to the ground. The political situation in France being rather confused in the autumn of 1870, the proclamation of the republic on September 4 in Paris installed in fact a power to precarious foundations. This government of national defense counts in its ranks some great names of those who will make the Third Republic, such Favre, Ferry or Gambetta. But the new leaders must make up for their lack of credibility with a French population that, in May 1870 again, favoured Napoleon III: a man of order is absolutely necessary. Hence "the idea of ​​bringing Trochu into the governmental combination [because] despite his Catholic and Orleanist beliefs, the latter benefited from his image of opponent of the Empire and its popularity in the capital" (Audoin-Rouzeau, 1870, France in the war, 147).
General Trochu (1815-1896) is a Saint-Cyrist who made a reputation in Crimea (1853-1856) and then in Africa. "Breton, Catholic and soldier", as he defines himself, is a man of convictions as evidenced by his resounding pre-war work, "L’Armée française en 1867" - (The French Army in 1867), where he points out without amenity the extent deficiencies of the institution to which it belongs. This publication is worth to be "put in the closet" by the imperial power, but it is paying off during the collapse of the regime of Napoleon III.