The novel explores the generation conflict between the author and his father, a well-known press photographer in World War II. Although both are artists, exploiting reality as material for their respective arts, they hold contrasting views of reality and cannot resolve their artistic and moral differences. The father, proud of his achievements as a war photographer, feels that he could carry out his duties without involvement in the moral issues, while the son rejects this attitude as an abrogation of moral responsibility.

After his father's death the son reaches a more sympathetic understanding of his father's point of view.