Rupert Brook, London c. 1914

Curator: Here we have a portrait of Rupert Brook, London, by Sherril Schell. It's a gelatin silver print. Editor: It's incredibly romantic, in a classical way. A bit dreamy. Curator: Schell’s portrait captures Brook at the height of his fame, contributing to the constructed persona of the idealistic war poet. Editor: Do you think it's a deliberate construction? The soft focus certainly feels staged. It's hard to see past the romanticism. Curator: Certainly the image was carefully curated. Brook was a figure whose image was very much crafted in the public sphere. Editor: It’s a poignant reminder of how the representation of figures, especially in times of conflict, shapes collective memory and national identity. Curator: Absolutely. The photograph really reflects that dynamic. Editor: It makes me consider how we perpetuate those narratives today.