Acme Telephoto, American, active 1923–1952
Purple Heart Warning Curbs Fast Drivers Near Metz
1944
Gelatin silver print
Image: 7 x 6 9/16 in.
Gift of Paula and Mack Lee; 2017.60.1
Here, an armed World War II–era American soldier crouches by the side of the road as he examines a warning sign. Erected in Metz, France, by American forces, the sign indicates that the roadway was renamed “Purple Heart Avenue” to commemorate the bravery of deceased soldiers—most likely referring to those killed in the 1944 Battle of Metz. These signs, which American forces erected throughout Europe, urge those who pass to slow and contemplate the human cost of war. The soldier’s solemn expression suggests that he is indeed remembering his fallen brothers. Taken by an unknown photographer, the image suggests a transcendent bond between the living soldier and his dead comrades through the unbroken gaze.