politics
March 25, 2026
The shot that shows the absurdity of war: Peter van Agtmael’s best photograph
‘US soldiers would look for “suspected terrorists” in Iraqi homes and usually find nothing. This could be my grandma’s living room – it shows that insane violence can continue amid normal life’
TL;DR
- The photographer's most meaningful image shows a soldier in an Iraqi living room, highlighting the absurdity of war amidst normal life.
- The image was taken during his first experience of war in Iraq, part of a two-decade body of work on the US post-9/11 era.
- He sought to interpret the conflict from the perspective of his generation and the American presence, moving beyond traditional depictions of violence.
- The photographer discusses the moral complexities of his profession, the nature of soldiers, and the belief that war is an inherent part of human existence.
- He views the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as unmitigated failures and finds it difficult to be optimistic about future interventions.
- Van Agtmael now prioritizes his family, moving away from his past work documenting conflicts in the Middle East.
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