After weeks of weary fighting for the fateful Menin road, the victors and the vanguished both happy 1914 - 1918

This stereoscopic photograph, by Realistic Travels, shows us a scene of soldiers. The image is rendered in monochrome, a stark palette that emphasizes the gravity of the scene. Look closely and you’ll notice the victors and the vanquished both appear happy, an unexpected emotional complexity in the aftermath of conflict. The texture of the photographic paper itself adds a tactile dimension, a surface you can almost feel beneath your fingertips. The image is layered with the weight of history, each figure a testament to human resilience and the cost of war. Notice how the soldiers are arranged, some standing, others seated, creating a dynamic composition that draws the eye across the scene. It reminds me of some of the ways Gerhard Richter would approach the same themes later in the twentieth century, looking at the emotional complexity in the aftermath of war. This image invites contemplation, urging us to reflect on the layers of meaning embedded within its frame.