Staring into the Face of War: How Lee Miller Redefined the Role of the Witness

Lee Miller was a war photographer during World War Two, and her stunning, experimental work is still as interesting today as it was then. Her incredibly unique take on war photography made aspects of the conflict look almost beautiful and stylish, whilst also highlighting the destruction and pain of war, despite the fact her identity as a woman meant she was denied access to the frontlines. As a war photographer, Miller would have witnessed atrocities and pain, but her photos focus more on the people involved. She was able to turn something horrible into something rather stunning. Through her work, we can see how people got through the war, their strength, and the endurance of their art and creativity. The surrealism of her work aims to blend these elements together to help make sense of what was happening and how people maintained their resilience. 

Miller began her career as a model but quickly realised she would rather be the one taking the photographs than the one in front of the camera, and so demanded mentorship from Man Ray. She established her own studio in 1930. 

It is easy to forget that during this difficult time, people turned to art to express their thoughts and emotions about what was happening. Miller’s photography foregrounds this phenomenon

Her war photography can be described as stylish and almost theatrical. It captures the absurdity of war through careful framing and a focus on highlighting the mixture of beauty and destruction that war can bring. One of her photos from the Blitz in London is of a piano after a bombing. It sits quietly in the rubble, no longer able to play, but is still a reminder of the creativity and small joys of the victims of war. Much of her work reminds us of the character and personality of those in the war, rather than simply highlighting the death and destruction around them, which, of course, is still an unavoidable theme within the photographs. Another image Miller captured during the Blitz is of a bombed typewriter, another symbol of art and creativity hindered by the destruction. It is easy to forget that during this difficult time, people turned to art to express their thoughts and emotions about what was happening. Miller’s photography foregrounds this phenomenon, making it all the more devastating when we are forced to think about the absence of the person who once used that piano or wrote on that typewriter. 

An act as insignificant as taking a picture required a gas mask, and so risked the threat of death

Many of her photos feature people. Their faces are often covered by gas masks or other protective gear, giving the photographs an almost futuristic quality, whilst obscuring the faces of those in it. One of her most famous images is of a journalist, her close friend, wearing a gas mask whilst taking photos. This juxtaposition of the striking image of the gas mask and the quotidian nature of the camera highlights how everyone was impacted, even those who were not fighting. This also demonstrates how bizarre and confusing life must have been for those affected, as even an act as insignificant as taking a picture required a gas mask, and so risked the threat of death. Another striking photograph that Miller took is a stiletto of an opera singer named Seefried, performing to the backdrop of a bombed opera house. 

Lee Miller’s work is being presented at the Tate Britain until February 15 2026

A lot of Miller’s work focuses on the perseverance of art in a time of war, embodied either in the objects of the typewriter or piano, or people’s actions such as singing or taking a photo. This is what makes her work so striking. While other war photographers used fighting and soldiers as their subjects, she took photos of those who tried to keep their own and others spirits up with their art. A phenomenon that can still resonate with us today. She shifts the focus of witnessing war to witnessing those trying to cope with the war.  In times of conflict people try to hold onto a sense of normality, and Miller’s photos show just how people did this. 

Lee Miller’s work is being presented at the Tate Britain until February 15 2026 and is definitely worth taking the time to see, if you are able.