The Fall of Ostend, October 1914 c. 1917

Editor: This is Gerald Pryse's "The Fall of Ostend, October 1914," a print from the Tate collection. It's incredibly evocative; a somber crowd, heavy with what looks like luggage. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It’s like stepping into a nightmare, isn't it? Pryse captures the feeling of collective anxiety so well. Notice how the figures are clumped together, their faces obscured, and the light seems to drain all hope. Does it make you think about the personal cost of war? Editor: Absolutely. The darkness at the bottom of the image is so overwhelming. Curator: Yes, like a rising tide of despair. It's a poignant reminder that history isn't just dates and battles; it’s about individual lives, uprooted and irrevocably changed. I am learning so much about what the war meant to ordinary people. Editor: Me too. It really makes you think.