The Third Cavalry Division in Ghent, 12 October 1914 c. 1917

Editor: This is Gerald Pryse’s "The Third Cavalry Division in Ghent, 12 October 1914" from the Tate Collections. It feels like chaos frozen in time. What symbols do you see embedded in this image? Curator: The fleeing figures, weighed down, contrast sharply with the regimented cavalry. This opposition isn’t just visual; it speaks to the psychological weight of war, the disruption of ordinary lives by an advancing force. Notice the buildings; their solidity underscores what is at stake: home, community, continuity. Editor: So, the image is less about the cavalry itself, and more about what their presence signifies? Curator: Precisely. The cavalry becomes a symbol of disruption and fear, triggering a primal response. The tilted postures of the figures show the emotional, cultural, and psychological implications, and it carries weight over time. Editor: That makes me see the image in a whole new light. Curator: Indeed, the image’s power lies in its ability to evoke the collective trauma of displacement.