Bidspirit auction | Frank Hurley (1885–1962) – ”Ruins

Frank Hurley (1885–1962) – ”Ruins of St. Martin's Cathedral, Ypres” – Vintage Exhibition Photograph – World War I - Large vintage exhibition photographic print after an iconic World War I image by Frank Hurley (1885–1962), the celebrated Australian war photographer and official photographer of the Australian Imperial Force. The photograph depicts the devastated St. Martin's Cathedral (Sint-Maartenskathedraal) in Ypres (Ieper), Belgium, viewed through the shattered arches of the nearby Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle). A lone British soldier stands among the rubble, emphasizing the immense destruction inflicted upon the medieval city during the First World War. Ypres became one of the principal battlefields of the Western Front, suffering repeated bombardments between 1914 and 1918. This powerful image documents the architectural devastation that made the city one of the most enduring symbols of the war. The reverse bears a handwritten title identifying the subject as ”Ruins at Ypres”, together with inventory annotations. Dimensions: approximately 36.5 × 27.5 cm Condition: Good vintage condition with normal age-related wear, light foxing, minor creases, handling marks, and handwritten annotations on the reverse. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.