This podcast explores the photographer Ernst Haas and his photograph Homecoming Prisoner taken in 1948. Through visual analysis and critical thinking, we will attempt to unearth the photographs' meaning and message. We start by diving into Ernst Haas’s life and career that leads up to the creation of the photograph. We then analyze the story and meaning behind this famous and emotionally provocative photograph of a lone soldier returning home from war. Homecoming Prisoner is significant and unique because of its melancholy undertones and interesting physical features, and it tells a political story about Western society and its acceptance of war veterans during this time period after World War II. Exploration of body language and orientation as well as framing and structure reinforce a narrative about World War II veterans who have returned home. Through historical context and viewing the photograph through a documentary lens, we will together build a schema to further our understanding of this intricate photograph.

Click here for a transcription and bibliography as well as images of the works discussed in today's episode.⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is part of the Crop and Click series featuring student research on documentary photography from our collection. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here for a portfolio of all the works discussed in the series.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosted and produced by Nora Fox and Nathaniel Zuckerberg. Cover art by Lucy Sherman '23.