Boyish Blood

This horrifying image of two wounded children dripping in fresh red blood really pulls at the heartstrings of the viewer. The fact that the injured victims are children creates a strong emotion of sadness and ultimately anger at the innocence of childhood and its' painful interruption.

The extent of the boys' wounds is evident though the observance of various factors in the photo. In addition to the two injured boys, four doctors are also present in the room with them. This 2:1 ratio shows the severity of the boys injury through all of the required medical attention. Also, the fresh red blood on the right boy's leg tells the audience the cut is fresh and continues to bleed. 

It may be noted that this image was in a time of conflict or war because of the dress, and actions of the medical personnel. The doctor in the middle of the photo with blood caked on his apron is the main indicator of this conclusion. The bloody apron looks more dried and less red than the right boys bloody leg, implying the doctor may have been dealing with previous patients. Also, it looks as if the boys are being treated in some sort of makeshift hospital room. The tiny table of tools and medicines as well as the overcrowded operating table are indicators of this.

The audience may initially feel sadness at seeing the absence of mobility, energy, and boyish behavior in the children depicted, but this feeling morphs into something different. By having an image so drastically contrasted to that of what the standard image of young life is meant to be the audience's feelings change from sadness to anger. Anger at whoever harmed these children and replaced their boyish innocence with pain and suffering similar to that of a full grown soldier.