Le Petit, Alfred (painter, lithographer, journalist, and chansonnier; Aumale 1841 – Levallois-Perret 1909). M. P(ierre) Tirard, goldsmith by profession, he became a politician and Prime Minister in the late ’80s. Since March 18th, thus briefly before the caricature here, temporary member of the Paris Commune he tried in vain to mediate between this and the National Assembly. Here as bristly thistle-knight “Le Chardon” at the head of his troops, “Vive la Commune”. Colored lithograph. Inscribed: Alfred Le Petit 30 Mars 1871., otherwise as above and below resp. 25 x 13.5 cm.
Osterwalder, Dictionnaire des Illustrateurs, p. 622. – Plate 29 of Le Petit’s Fleurs, Fruits & Légumes du Jour. – With the address of L’Éclipse and that of the printer Coulbœuf, both Paris. – In the wide white right margin feeble color stains. – With H. Briollet’s quatrain:
« ‹Aux ânes de la République / Foulant mon pré municipal, / Je dis: qui s’y frotte, s’y pique! / Je suis un Chardon radical!› »
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