Major General Garrett and Officers of the 46th 1855

Roger Fenton captured Major General Garrett and Officers of the 46th using the collodion process, a cutting-edge photographic technique at the time. This image gives us a glimpse into the Crimean War, and British military life in the mid-19th century. Notice the composition and the expressions of the officers. Fenton's choice to portray them in a moment of leisure, gathered around a makeshift table, offers a humanizing perspective to the war. While these men are posed to uphold their authority, there’s a contrast between the formality of their uniforms and the casual setting of their encampment. It asks us to consider their identities beyond the battlefield: Who were they, what class did they come from, and what were their experiences of the war? Fenton's photographs challenged the heroic narratives of war, inviting viewers to consider the more intimate and mundane experiences of those involved.