Algiersche tirailleurs, uitgelezen troepen, vooral door de DuItschers gevreesd om hunne vreeselijke bajonet aanvallen 1914 - 1915

This small, sepia print by Sémaphore captures Algerian soldiers, the tirailleurs, wading through the water. I can imagine the artist setting up their camera, fiddling with the focus, trying to capture the perfect moment of these soldiers in motion. The limited color palette and shallow depth of field create a sense of distance, almost as if we're viewing a scene from a dream. What was Sémaphore thinking as they pressed the shutter release? Were they trying to glorify the bravery of these soldiers, or capture the more mundane reality of conflict? What does it mean to be in the water? This image reminds me that painting, like photography, is about capturing a specific moment in time, but also about the artist's perspective and interpretation of that moment. And that's where the ongoing conversation between artists across time comes in—each trying to make sense of the world through our own unique lens. It's a conversation that embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.