A few years ago there was an exhibit at Prague castle called "World War One on Foot: Through the lens of an unknown soldier" showing black and white photos from World War I. Two things made this exhibition stand out from others.
Firstly, the photographer was unknown. What he had seen was all that was known of his identity. His photos had been stored away in an archive. Secondly, these were not typical war front photos. They pictured the boyishly young soldiers smiling and relaxing around a mess table, they depicted field meals and dress and behaviour. It was a reminder that war has a human face. (Read more about this exhibit now being shown in Ljubljana: )
That photo exhibition was a spark that lead to the discovery of not only the photographer's identity but also to a plethora of WWI photography that was hidden away in attics. And it has led to a follow-up exhibition. This exhibition is called War Photographers 1914-1918. It is comprised of photos from multiple soldiers of different ranks and backgrounds. The rawness is gripping. It is hard to believe how the world has changed in less than a hundred years, and yet we humans made of our flesh and bone remain.
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