Valley of the Shadow of Death

Question

by Roger Fenton

Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

Question
How does Roger Fenton use visual composition in Valley of the Shadow of Death to depict the loss of war?
(1 point)
Responses

Cannonballs in a barren landscape celebrate the glory of battle.
Cannonballs in a barren landscape celebrate the glory of battle.

Cannonballs are a reminder of a victorious battle.
Cannonballs are a reminder of a victorious battle.

Cannonballs in the barren landscape are a symbol of war.
Cannonballs in the barren landscape are a symbol of war.

Cannonballs in a barren landscape hint at the missing dead.
Cannonballs in a barren landscape hint at t

Answer 1

he missing dead.

Roger Fenton uses visual composition in Valley of the Shadow of Death to depict the loss of war by placing cannonballs in a barren landscape, which serves as a powerful symbol of war. The starkness of the landscape coupled with the presence of the cannonballs evokes the destructiveness and desolation of battle, hinting at both the violence that has occurred and the absence of life that follows. This composition emphasizes the somber reality and tragic consequences of war, rather than glorifying it.