La Grande Guerre | The Great War

Le pouvoir d'influence de la photographie | The Persuasive Power of Photography

World War I could be called the “war of the camera”. While earlier conflicts were documented using photography, WWI represented a turning point in how the medium was applied and by whom. Both the Allied forces and the Central Powers employed official photos to spy, to provoke, and to persuade – a study in strategy, censorship, and the constant need to whip up public support for the cause. In sharp contrast, the importance of photography for personal use was undeniable. For soldiers and those left behind, studio portraits and photo albums created permanent records of lives that were suddenly placed at risk. Published on the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI, this book brings together a diverse, remarkable selection of images that illustrates the beginning of photography’s inextricability from modern warfare.

Ann Thomas is curator of the Photographs Collection at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa.
Anthony Petiteau is responsible for documentary studies at the Musée de l’Armée, Paris.