Military Games c. 1930s

This black and white photograph by Mikhail Grachev captures children engaged in what appears to be military training. The most striking element is the gas mask, worn by the child in the foreground, obscuring the face and hinting at unseen threats. This motif—the covered face—resonates across time. From ancient protective masks to modern-day respirators, it symbolizes both protection and hidden danger. Consider how the masks worn during rituals in ancient cultures served to ward off evil spirits, juxtaposed with our contemporary use of masks to shield against invisible poisons. The emotional weight of this image is heavy. The children’s playful actions are at odds with the ominous presence of war, creating a tension that unsettles the viewer. These symbols are powerful reminders of how collective anxieties manifest in our visual culture, resurfacing time and again, each time colored by new historical contexts.