Even in the midst of the hardship and suffering of war, soldiers have always sought respite from battle through reminiscence of loved ones at home, following sports teams, thoughts of female companionship, humor, and comfort from those caring for their wounds. These efforts to take personal and psychological refuge from war found broad expression in the stone carvings left by soldiers on all sides.

 

Engraving

Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.

 

Carving into a stone wall listing the score of the world series. Red Socks 7, Yanks 4

Over a period of several years photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This etching illustrates soldiers’ attempts to find respite from battle by following a game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

 

Figure of a woman engraved on stone.

Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.

 

Woman's portrait on stone

Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.

 

Engraving of a woman in profile.

Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.

 

Close up of an engraved mess kit.

Love poem engraved on a mess kit plate by an American soldier from Boston, 1918. Lent by Association Soissonnais 14-18

“To One I Fondly Love”
Love poem engraved on a mess kit plate by an American soldier from Boston, 1918.
Lent by Association Soissonnais 14-18

Photographs by Jeff Gusky
Related Topics Art War and Conflict World War I
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