Vermoedelijk Italiaanse militairen bij een muildier: ambulance in de bergen 1916

Henri de Rothschild made this photograph of soldiers with a mule during the first world war, in black and white. It feels like a moment caught in time, a snapshot of the everyday within the chaos of war. Look at the texture of the image – the graininess gives it an almost tactile quality, like you could reach out and feel the rough wool of the soldiers' uniforms, or the coarse hair of the mule’s coat. The composition has a candid, almost accidental feel. The mule takes center stage, solid, calm and present, while the soldiers are caught in different poses, their expressions unreadable. It's fascinating how the artist uses light and shadow to create depth. See how the light falls unevenly across the scene, obscuring details and adding to the sense of mystery? This image reminds me of the war photography of someone like Paul Nash – both artists have a way of capturing the brutal realities of conflict. Ultimately, this photograph is a reminder of the human stories behind the grand narratives of war.