Photographers > Ernest Brooks
(202) C.1751 - Virgin wounded in the shoulder
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| First World War 'Official Photographs' > Photographers > Ernest Brooks > (202) C.1751 - Virgin wounded in the shoulder |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/74545892 |
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| Description | Destruction at the village of Montaubaun, France. Four soldiers are sorting through a pile of rubble while two stand on and watch. In the distance the surrounding fields can be seen. In the middle of the photo a statue of the Virgin Mary, significantly, still stands although a bullet has hit her shoulder. It is impossible not to wonder whether the statue was really the only thing left standing amongst the destruction. As these images were intended as propaganda it is possible that the scene was staged for poignancy. [Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT IN FRANCE. The Virgin wounded in the shoulder. The only thing left intact in the ruined village of Montauban.'] |
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| Description | Ernest Brooks was the first British official war photographer to be assigned to the Western Front in 1916. Previously a 'Daily Mirror' photographer, he was given the honorary rank of Second Lieutenant. His remit was to take as many photographs as possible, with as much variety as possible. Using his inconspicuous hand-held camera Brooks was free to wander, sometimes capturing his subjects unawares. Many of the images taken by Brooks were used to fuel the propaganda machine at home and abroad. Despite this Brooks, who was very aware of composition and light, produced some very artistic and thought-provoking images. |
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| Description | Photographs by named photographers. |
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| Description | Black-and-white photographs mainly of the Western Front during the First World War. Official British war photographers took many of them for propaganda purposes. Unless otherwise stated, titles are the photographs' original captions. From the papers of Field Marshal (Earl) Haig (1861-1928). The Haig Papers also contain Douglas Haig’s diaries. |
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| Shelfmark | Acc.3155 |
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