20 Powerful Images of WWI Soldiers With Prosthetic Masks

Anna Coleman Ladd, a renowned American sculptor in Boston, turned her talents to the Red Cross during WWI. With facial disfigurement from artillery and machine guns on the rise, Ladd created realistic facial reconstruction masks for injured soldiers. Using a cast of the soldier’s face, each mask was hand-painted and adorned with real facial hair, taking up to a month to complete. These masks primarily served French soldiers but also aided many Americans. Explore this harrowing collection of Ladd’s life-changing work.

Anna Coleman Ladd says goodbye to a blind soldier and his companion.