H.E. shells bursting in Mametz Wood, hotly contested with the Prussian Guard, finally taken July, 1916 after 1916

This black and white stereo card, made by Realistic Travels, shows the stark reality of the conflict in Mametz Wood in July 1916. I can only imagine the terror that the photographer must have felt making this image. The skeletal remains of trees reach upwards like desperate pleas, while smoke billows in the background, a chilling reminder of the ongoing violence. The earth itself seems scarred and broken, mirroring the human cost of war. There is a long tradition in art of responding to the horror of battle. Think of Goya's 'Disasters of War'. This image captures not just a scene, but a feeling – a profound sense of loss and devastation. Even now, we keep talking to each other with our art – responding, commenting, and reflecting on the world we share.