André Auguste Lançon was a French Draughtsman illustrator, painter, printmaker (lithographs, etchings, wood-engravings) and sculptor. Born in Saint-Claude (Jura), studied lithography with printer Robert in Lons-le Saunier, then from 1853 studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Lyon where he was taught by Bonnefond. In 1858 he entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He worked as illustrator for journals ‘Le Temps’ and ‘L’Illustration’ from 1860. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out (1870) he served as an ambulanceman. His service later spared him deportation, as he took part in the Commune of 1871 and was subsequently arrested and detained. He drew inspiration from his time in the army and produced a series of etchings recounting the daily life of soldiers and the atrocities of war. He later took an interest in the slums of Paris and London. In 1877 he was dispatched to cover the Balkan campaign for ‘L’Illustration’.