Dimensions: height 85 mm, width 170 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Here’s a stereo card made by Realistic Travels showing Beury Chateau, Festubert during the First World War. Look at how the photographer documents the scene – the broken, jagged edges of the brick, the uprooted trees, the light and shadow that emphasizes the starkness of the landscape. Photography can sometimes be seen as a purely documentary medium, but I think this image also reflects an artmaking process. The textures are palpable – you can almost feel the roughness of the rubble and the smoothness of the remaining walls. The contrast between light and dark areas creates a sense of depth and drama, inviting us to contemplate the scene. It reminds me of the war photography of someone like Paul Nash. While their mediums and techniques differ, both artists share a desire to capture the emotional and physical impact of war. In the end, art reminds us that meaning is often found in the act of looking itself.
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