56. Copy of captured enemy photograph of Colombey-les-Belles—advanced American Air Service supply base, September 25, 1918

Plate 56. Captured enemy photograph, Colombey-les-Belles, from an album of World War I aerial photography assembled by Edward Steichen, in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Plate 56, from an untitled album of World War I photographs, September 25, 1918

Plate 56, from an untitled album of World War I photographs, September 25, 1918 (detail)

Gelatin silver print
Gift of William Kistler, 1977.732

As Steichen’s caption indicates, the Allied forces were not alone in their use of aerial photography and surveillance. Many frontline reports comment on the frequency of enemy aerial observers overhead, both in airplanes and hot air balloons.

Inscribed recto, in negative, upper center, sideways, in white: “Colombey – les – Belle”; recto, in negative, upper right, sideways, in white: “[illegible/crossed out] / 25.9.18 1030 – 1210 / [illegible/crossed out]”; inscribed recto, on album page, lower left, in black/brown ink: “copy of a captured enemy photograph of / Colomby les Belles – advanced American air service supply base”; 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: “56”; unmarked verso