Two-Minute Silence, Armistice Day, London

Unknown

November 11, 1919 · Gelatin silver print · Photographs

World War I formally ended on November 11, 1918-the famous "eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month"-six hours after Germans signed a treaty with the Allies in Compiègne, France. The news was anticipated for several days and was rapidly transmitted to major cities throughout Europe and the rest of the world, thus becoming one of the first major media events of the twentieth century. This photograph, made by a news photographer, records thousands of Londoners gathered to formally observe the end of warfare in a moment of mutual, focused attention.

Artist

Unknown

Date

November 11, 1919

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Ford Motor Company Collection, Gift of Ford Motor Company and John C. Waddell, 1987