"The Soldier's Tear"–Old Song
A British marine weeps because he fears the fighting in South Africa will end before he gets there–the Anglo-Zulu war lasted only six months. Text published with the related wood engraving, probably in Punch, sheds further light on the image:
Officer (to Royal Marine who has just been inspected to go to Zululand): 'What's that man crying for? What are you crying for, Sir?'
Joe: 'Boo-hoo! Wha's the good o' goin' now? We ought to a' gone a year ago!' (Exit, sobbing, to canteen).
Keene worked for Punch between 1864 and 1890 as one of its most popular illustrators. In fact, the German artist Adolph von Menzel subscribed to the British periodical because he so enjoyed Keene's mages.
Officer (to Royal Marine who has just been inspected to go to Zululand): 'What's that man crying for? What are you crying for, Sir?'
Joe: 'Boo-hoo! Wha's the good o' goin' now? We ought to a' gone a year ago!' (Exit, sobbing, to canteen).
Keene worked for Punch between 1864 and 1890 as one of its most popular illustrators. In fact, the German artist Adolph von Menzel subscribed to the British periodical because he so enjoyed Keene's mages.
Artwork Details
- Title: "The Soldier's Tear"–Old Song
- Artist: Charles Samuel Keene (British, Hornsey, Middlesex 1823–1891 London)
- Date: ca. 1879
- Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and wash, touches of white gouache (bodycolor)
- Dimensions: Sheet: 6 1/4 × 8 1/8 in. (15.8 × 20.7 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1924
- Object Number: 24.67.3
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Charles Samuel Keene
1868
Charles Samuel Keene
1845–91
Charles Samuel Keene
1869
Charles Samuel Keene
Dalziel Brothers
1862
Charles Samuel Keene
1870–1891
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.