"Eternity" – Celebrating Doctor Larrey's 260th Birthday
The drawing was made last year but never posted. This year I made some minor adjustments and attached the merchandise made from last year’s illustration—hand sanitizer and a lenticular card video—to post it in celebration of Doctor (Larrey)'s 260th birthday. The idea behind the hand sanitizer is that the Grand Army’s military surgeon guards your health. The text in the background of the illustration is Rimbaud's Eternal:
“Mon âme éternelle, Observe ton vœu Malgré la nuit seule Et le jour en feu.”
So the illustration is divided into a day version and a night version. The flowers surrounding Larrey are calendulas—also called "medal flowers." In Greek mythology, calendula is considered a gift from the sun god Apollo, but its flower language means "farewell" and also "integrity"—which is exactly how Napoleon once praised Larrey, as the most upright person. Above Larrey's head is laurel, and around him are oaks and oak leaves. The oak symbolizes resilience and has long been used in the decoration of marshals' uniforms; after Larrey's passing, laurel leaves were laid in his coffin... In short, this illustration is packed with many small symbolic touches, reflecting the deep affection between the two and their fate. The day version of the hand sanitizer is scented "Love Magic"—my own private indulgence, as I have always quietly shipped the pair (Emperor and Doctor). This year, at offline events, I gave away the remaining hand sanitizers to teachers who purchased the fanbooks. I hope everyone likes them.