Making Soldiers: Bayonet Practice c. 1917

Curator: Eric Kennington’s pen and ink drawing, "Making Soldiers: Bayonet Practice," held here at the Tate, is a rather stark image, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely. There's a chilling regimentation to it. All those identical targets in the background, the faceless trainee lunging forward...it feels dehumanizing. Curator: Kennington served in both World Wars, and his work often explored the brutal realities of conflict. This piece likely reflects his observations about the military industrial complex and its impact. Editor: Precisely. The visual language speaks volumes. The emphasis on training, on turning individuals into instruments of war. Consider the power dynamics, the individual versus the institution. Curator: It's a striking depiction of how societies prepare for and engage in violence, framing soldiers more as tools than individuals. Editor: It really does compel one to examine the socio-political forces that shape such imagery. Curator: Indeed. It leaves a lasting impression, offering a critical perspective on the human cost of conflict. Editor: It certainly gives us a new perspective for understanding how war impacts individual identity.