A collection of old mortar shells made from the ruins of Cassino, Italy

1948

David Seymour (Chim)

Associated Names
David Seymour

Artist, American, born Poland, 1911 - 1956

This is a photograph of a scene with rubble and stacked artillery shells. The image depicts an outdoor setting with a landscape marked by destruction, characterized by piles of rubble and ruined buildings in the background. The ground is strewn with rocks and debris, with stacks of artillery shells lying on the ground. The background shows ruins of buildings, indicating a recent catastrophe that has left the area in this condition. The overall atmosphere suggests a historical or post-war context, with the landscape serving as a stark reminder of past events.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

David Seymour/Magnum Photos Inc., New York; Eileen Shneiderman, sister of the artist, 1956; Ben Shneiderman, Washington, DC; gift to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2003; acquired by NGA, 2015.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, by unknown hand, top left in graphite: EUROPE'S CHILDREN/ITALY; top right: RUINS; across top: 3-329: a collection of old mortar shells made / from the ruins of Cassino by a group of boys. / They sell the shells for scrap metal. / Occasionally a shell explodes and injures / the treasure-seekers.; by Corcoran Gallery of Art, bottom right: 2003.44.15

Wikidata ID

Q64146122

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