45. Fort Douaumont (near Verdun), 1918/19 | Edward Steichen's World War I Years

Plate 45. Fort Douaumont (near Verdun), from an album of World War I aerial photography assembled by Edward Steichen, in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Plate 45, from an untitled album of World War I photographs, 1918/19

Gelatin silver print
Gift of William Kistler, 1977.721

Fort Douaumont was part of the ring of fortifications around the town of Metz, a German stronghold near the St. Mihiel salient. The fort was practically obliterated by heavy shelling and is only recognizable thanks to its distinctive shape.

Unknown. Fort Douaumont, 1916. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Fort Douaumont in 1916. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Inscribed recto, on album page, lower left, in black/brown ink: “Fort Douaumont (near Verdun)”; printed recto, on album page, lower right, in black ink: “Photographic Section. / Air Service. American Expeditionary Forces.”; inscribed recto, on album page, lower right, in blue ink: “45”; unmarked verso