Joe Sacco, acclaimed author of comic strips of contemporary conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, has turned his hand to the First World War.

A newly created piece, which depicts the opening day of the Battle of the Somme and goes on display at a Paris underground station on July 1st, the anniversary of the outbreak of the famous battle. 

The Maltese artist has previously published the work in an accordion style book but will now see the landscape stretch for over 100m when it makes its debut in in the subway station of Montparnasse.

'I wanted to convey the enormous undertaking that war involved. Humans cooperate to kill other humans. I wanted to show what was at the foreground as well as in the background, to give a feeling of depth.'

Click here to view a high resolution picture of the artwork.