Eene batterij Duitsche "77" door de geduchte Fransche "75" in stukken geschoten (...) 1914 - 1915

This photographic print, titled "Eene batterij Duitsche "77" door de geduchte Fransche "75" in stukken geschoten (...)," by Sémaphore, presents a scene of destruction rendered in monochrome tones. The composition is dominated by a flattened foreground and a disrupted middle ground filled with debris and figures. The photograph's power lies in its stark depiction of fractured forms, both of machinery and human presence. Debris litters the scene, creating a semiotic field of disorder where established meanings of warfare are destabilized. The eye struggles to find a point of stable perspective, mirroring the chaos of the depicted event. The high contrast and shallow depth of field emphasize texture over depth, drawing attention to the materiality of the scene. The photograph challenges fixed notions by presenting a world where the familiar structures of military engagement have collapsed. This invites a continuous re-evaluation of the artwork's meaning as it reflects the broader philosophical concern during wartime: the fragility of order.