Met het bergkanon van 65 m/m op muilezels getransporteerd, hebben de "Chasseurs Alpins" de bergengten en de toppen der Elzas-Vogezen veroverd (...) 1915

This photograph by Sémaphore shows the Chasseurs Alpins with a mountain cannon in the Alsace-Vosges. This image, likely captured during wartime, freezes a moment of strategic military operation within a complex landscape. The cannon itself speaks volumes about the technology and labor of the time. Forged from metal and mounted on sturdy wooden wheels, it reflects the industrial processes that fueled warfare. Hauling this piece of machinery up steep inclines necessitated considerable manpower and animal labor, underscoring the physical demands placed on soldiers. The photograph's muted tones and grainy texture emphasize the harsh realities of war. It reminds us that photography, seemingly a documentary medium, is as much about capturing reality as it is about shaping our understanding of social and political contexts. The material reality of the cannon and the labor to transport it are crucial to understanding the image's overall message.