War art
Encyclopedia
War art is considered a genre
of art
. It is characterized by war
, military
subjects and war activities, as part of the wider field of military art
. The distinction between war and military art is not clear-cut. The works described as war art represent a broad range of subject matter and styles. It includes sculpture, and other artistic media. War art includes painting
, as a sub-type of history painting
.
Although war art is an account of one aspect of art history, it is also an expression of culture. War art combines artistic and documentary functions, and it becomes one of the significant legacies of any culture.
's Anzac Book influenced the artists who grew up between the two world wars. When these Australians were asked to depict a second multi-nation war after 1939, there was a precedent and format for them to follow.
War art is typically realistic
; but its definition of accuracy emphasizes not only factual, eyewitness detail but also the emotional impression and impact of events. Art and war becomes "a tussle between the world of the imagination and the world of action" — a constant tension between the factual representation of events and an artist's interpretation.
War art is artwork conceived and executed by people involved in war in some manner. In other words, the subject can be parsed according to who creates it, as for example,
War art may been created by a combination of the above — or not created. For example, during the course of World War II, the Italians created virtually no art which documented the conflict.
The French began to paint the war only after the war was ended in 1945.
of art history
simply to indicates a class or kind of painting which is grouped according to common feature. The grouping is marked by a distinctive adjective or epithet. War art is characterized by the subject matter it depicts rather any specific style or material used.
War art appeared in various forms in classical western art history. Examples of this genre include the friezes of warriors at the Temple of Aphaia in Greece or the Bayeux Tapestry
, is a linear panoramic narrative of the events surrounding the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings
in 1066.
River crossings
Cavalry engagements
Sanctuary
or other persuasive ends.
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Civilian support for the war effort
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
. It is characterized by war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
subjects and war activities, as part of the wider field of military art
Military art
Military art is a term describing works of art on military themes. The genre of military art is characterized by its subject matter rather than by any specific style or material used. The battle scene is one of the oldest types of art in developed civilizations, as rulers have always been keen to...
. The distinction between war and military art is not clear-cut. The works described as war art represent a broad range of subject matter and styles. It includes sculpture, and other artistic media. War art includes painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, as a sub-type of history painting
History painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...
.
Although war art is an account of one aspect of art history, it is also an expression of culture. War art combines artistic and documentary functions, and it becomes one of the significant legacies of any culture.
Definition
War art by definition becomes an attempt to come to terms with the nature and reality of violence. For example, in Australia, C.E.W. BeanCharles Bean
Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean , usually identified as C.E.W. Bean, was an Australian schoolmaster, judge's associate, barrister journalist, war correspondent and historian....
's Anzac Book influenced the artists who grew up between the two world wars. When these Australians were asked to depict a second multi-nation war after 1939, there was a precedent and format for them to follow.
War art is typically realistic
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
; but its definition of accuracy emphasizes not only factual, eyewitness detail but also the emotional impression and impact of events. Art and war becomes "a tussle between the world of the imagination and the world of action" — a constant tension between the factual representation of events and an artist's interpretation.
War art is artwork conceived and executed by people involved in war in some manner. In other words, the subject can be parsed according to who creates it, as for example,
- artists officially commissioned either to spend varying periods of wartime under fire or to be present at nearly every kind of military activity, in order to record them
- servicemen-artists responding to powerful inner urges to depict direct war experience
- sensitive onlookers
War art may been created by a combination of the above — or not created. For example, during the course of World War II, the Italians created virtually no art which documented the conflict.
The French began to paint the war only after the war was ended in 1945.
Genre
War art as a genreGenre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
simply to indicates a class or kind of painting which is grouped according to common feature. The grouping is marked by a distinctive adjective or epithet. War art is characterized by the subject matter it depicts rather any specific style or material used.
War art appeared in various forms in classical western art history. Examples of this genre include the friezes of warriors at the Temple of Aphaia in Greece or the Bayeux Tapestry
Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth—not an actual tapestry—nearly long, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings...
, is a linear panoramic narrative of the events surrounding the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066.
Narrative themes gallery
Narrative art captures specific military maneuversRiver crossings
Cavalry engagements
Sanctuary
Propaganda
War art has been used as an instrument of propaganda. War art has served nation-building functionsor other persuasive ends.
Propaganda gallery
EnlistmentSee also
- Military artMilitary artMilitary art is a term describing works of art on military themes. The genre of military art is characterized by its subject matter rather than by any specific style or material used. The battle scene is one of the oldest types of art in developed civilizations, as rulers have always been keen to...
- War artists
- American official war artistsAmerican official war artistsAmerican official war artists have been part of the American military since 1917. Artists are unlike the objective camera lens which records only a single instant and no more. The war artist captures instantaneous action and conflates earlier moments of the same scene within one compelling...
- Australian official war artistsAustralian official war artistsAustralian official war artists are those who have been expressly employed by either the Australian War Memorial or the Army Military History Section...
- British official war artistsBritish official war artistsBritish official war artists were a select group of artists who were employed on contract, or commissioned to produce specific works during the First World War, the Second World War and select military actions in the post-war period...
- Canadian official war artistsCanadian official war artistsCanadian official war artists create a visual account of war by showing its impact as men and women are shown waiting, preparing, fighting, suffering, celebrating, These were a select group of artists who were employed on contract, or commissioned to produce specific works during the First World...
- German official war artists
- Japanese official war artistsJapanese official war artistsJapanese official war artists were commissioned to create artwork in the context of a specific war. The artists were creating sensō sakusen kirokuga for the government of Japan....
- New Zealander official war artists
- War photographyWar photographyWar photography captures photographs of armed conflict and life in war-torn areas.Although photographs can provide a more direct representation than paintings or drawings, they are sometimes manipulated, creating an image that is not objectively journalistic.-History:Photography, presented to the...
- The Horse in Art
- MilitariaMilitariaMilitaria are artifacts or replicas of military, police, etc., collected for their historical significance. Such antiques include firearms, swords, knives, and other weapons such as; uniforms, helmets, other military headgear, and armour; military orders and decorations; challenge coins and...
Further reading
- Dempsey, L James. (2007). Blackfoot War Art: Pictographs of the Reservation Period, 1880-2000. Normanm Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. 13-ISBN 978-0-8061-3804-6/10-ISBN 0-8061-3804-1; OCLC 70839712
- Gilkey, Gordon. War Art of the Third Reich. Bennington, Vermont: International Graphics Corporation, 1982). 10-ISBN 0-86556-018-8/13-ISBN 978-0-86556-018-5; OCLC 223704492
- Harries, Meirion and Suzie Harries. (1983). The War Artists: British Official War Art of the Twentieth Century. London: Michael Joseph. 10-ISBN 0-7181-2314-X/13-ISBN 978-0-7181-2314-7; OCLC 9888782
- Thorniley-Walker, Jane. (2006). War Art: Murals and Graffiti - Military Life, Power and Subversion. Bootham: Council for British archaeology. 10-ISBN 1902771567/13-ISBN 978-1-902771-56-4; OCLC 238785409
- Yenne, William P. (1983). German War Art, 1939-1945. New York: Crescent Books. 10-ISBN 0-517-34846-2/13-ISBN 978-0-517-34846-8; OCLC 611620194
External links
- Archives New ZealandArchives New ZealandArchives New Zealand is the National Archives of New Zealand, with overall responsibility for government recordkeeping and for community archives. Since 1 February 2011 it has been part of the Department of Internal Affairs...
, War Art digitization