U.S. Casualties in Vietnam... 1967

Al Chang made this photograph, U.S. Casualties in Vietnam, using a muted palette, almost as if the horror it depicts could only be approached indirectly, with a whisper. The limited tonal range, dominated by grays and browns, speaks to a somber mood, almost as if the image itself is in mourning. The photograph foregrounds the sheer material weight of the body bags, their fabric folds capturing the light in a way that almost feels sculptural. The texture is palpable, hinting at the human forms beneath. Look at the way the light catches the edges of the bags, giving them a ghostly presence. The figures in the background seem to be almost fading away, an apt metaphor for the way war can erode our sense of self. Chang’s work reminds me of photographers like Leon Golub, who also explored the theme of conflict and violence, but through a more abstract lens. Like their work, this photograph doesn't offer easy answers or resolutions, instead it invites us to sit with the complexities of war and its aftermath.