diff --git a/backend/app/frontend.py b/backend/app/frontend.py
index 879a6c9..7855148 100644
--- a/backend/app/frontend.py
+++ b/backend/app/frontend.py
@@ -1,14 +1,36 @@
-"""Serves the built Vue SPA from frontend/dist/ with history-mode fallback."""
+"""Serves the built Vue SPA from frontend/dist/ with history-mode fallback,
+and the on-disk image library + thumbnails from /images.
+"""
 
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from quart import Blueprint, send_from_directory
+from quart import Blueprint, abort, send_from_directory
 
 FRONTEND_DIST = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent / "frontend" / "dist"
+IMAGES_ROOT = Path("/images")
 
 frontend_bp = Blueprint("frontend", __name__)
 
 
+@frontend_bp.route("/images/<path:subpath>")
+async def serve_image(subpath: str):
+    """Serve a file from the /images volume (originals + thumbnails).
+
+    Without this route the SPA catch-all below would swallow image
+    requests and return index.html, leaving the browser to render the
+    aspect-ratio-shaped grey placeholder.
+    """
+    target = (IMAGES_ROOT / subpath).resolve()
+    # Defend against path-traversal: refuse anything that escapes /images.
+    try:
+        target.relative_to(IMAGES_ROOT)
+    except ValueError:
+        abort(404)
+    if not target.is_file():
+        abort(404)
+    return await send_from_directory(IMAGES_ROOT, subpath)
+
+
 @frontend_bp.route("/")
 @frontend_bp.route("/<path:subpath>")
 async def serve_spa(subpath: str = ""):