Picture Postcard of Manfred Von Richthofen. Sanke Postcard #533. 1918

Editor: So, this is a picture postcard from 1918 of Manfred Von Richthofen, famously known as the Red Baron, and it's a photograph by Nicola Perscheid. I'm struck by how formal yet haunting it feels. He's so young. What catches your eye when you look at this image? Curator: Haunting, yes, perfect word! You know, looking at this, I can't help but feel a little… nostalgic for an era I never knew. Isn’t it odd how photos can do that? The crisp lines of his uniform, that almost defiant tilt of his head... it's all so meticulously composed. Do you get the sense that this postcard romanticizes war? That's how they got young lads like him, eh? Editor: Absolutely! It feels almost like propaganda. He’s positioned like a matinee idol rather than a soldier on the brink of unimaginable destruction. But, if it's propaganda, what about the choice to render this using realism? Wouldn't idealism make a better effect? Curator: Interesting question. I think the realism here plays a crucial role in its seduction. It feels like you’re getting an honest, unvarnished glimpse of this figure. This lends it a sense of authenticity, which probably made it all the more effective at the time. The postcard format itself… it's so intimate, like receiving a personal message. It's genius really! Don't you think? Editor: It makes a lot of sense. It feels like receiving an innocent greeting when there is an underlying message pushing you to your death. Now, considering Perscheid, how might this postcard contribute to our appreciation of celebrity portraiture of the time? Curator: Well, it tells a whole story doesn't it? Before we consumed imagery en masse, there was more deliberation behind representation, or maybe this image shows an example of how governments curated these public faces, or perhaps all of that is just me projecting. You make your call, but thanks for inviting me to wonder with you. Editor: It's definitely a sobering reflection! Thank you!