Oorlogsschip Jauréguiberry van de Franse marine 1893 - 1910

This is a photograph of the French Navy battleship Jauréguiberry, captured by Gustave Hermans. Given Hermans's working dates, we can assume this photograph was taken in the late 19th or early 20th century, a period of intense naval competition among European powers. The image creates meaning through its stark, documentary style, typical of the era's fascination with technology and military might. The Jauréguiberry itself was a symbol of French ambition and industrial power, reflecting the nation's efforts to maintain its status in a rapidly changing world. To understand this image better, we can look into naval archives, engineering journals, and political documents of the time, to understand the symbolic weight carried by these machines of war and the social forces that drove their creation. Art like this reflects a specific time, place, and set of social conditions.