Rustende republikeinse soldaten in Frankrijk Possibly 1939

This photograph, "Resting Republican Soldiers in France," made by the Associated Press, captures a moment of respite. It’s all in monochrome, which flattens the scene and throws the emphasis onto the textures and forms. There's something about the way the soldiers are huddled together, some with fists raised in solidarity, others covering their faces, that really gets to me. You can almost feel the weight of their weariness, the grit of the hay beneath them. Look at the guy right in front, with his patterned scarf and that thousand-yard stare – what's he thinking about? It reminds me a little of Goya’s depictions of war, the way he captured the human cost with such starkness. This image, like Goya's work, isn't just about a historical event; it's about the enduring experience of conflict, the way it marks and shapes us. Art, like war, is never really over.