Over the top, amid bursting gas and tear shells, in a determined assault on the fortified Somme villages 1914 - 1918

Curator: This arresting gelatin-silver print, dating from between 1914 and 1918, is titled "Over the top, amid bursting gas and tear shells, in a determined assault on the fortified Somme villages." Editor: What a chilling snapshot. The smoke and figures seem to dissolve into one another, creating a sense of total disorientation. Curator: The image possesses a stark monochromatic palette, limited to a spectrum of grayscale tonalities. Notice how the light source, likely diffuse, emphasizes the texture of the earth and the forms of the figures, their features obscured by the fog. The composition lacks a traditional focal point. The implied line of action draws the eye diagonally from the lower left to the upper right, mirroring the soldiers' assault, creating tension. Editor: It’s a powerfully bleak reminder of industrialized warfare during that period. I can't help but consider the impact that visual documentation had in shaping public perceptions about the Great War. The image hints at a loss of individuality, soldiers reduced to near silhouettes consumed by conflict. Were images such as this commonly disseminated and displayed at that time? Curator: Wartime photographs served distinct socio-political functions. On the one hand, imagery aimed at promoting patriotic fervor. Yet on the other hand, representations of battlefield realities were often circulated to fulfill demands for documentation and historical reckoning. The rise of mass media also meant more opportunities for diverse audiences to encounter representations of this type of historical material. Editor: Considering the perspective it takes of troops being 'over the top', what about it is it trying to convey. It clearly highlights both realism and romanticism, in my view. Curator: You are quite correct, it incorporates various representational approaches! This photograph engages realism via its documentarian aim—but note also how the high contrast and obscuring smoke can connote a sense of drama bordering on romanticized portrayals. Ultimately, it remains polysemous. Editor: Seeing how photography was essential for producing an artistic commentary and a historic record. A grim reminder in monochromatic aesthetics!