Images of War

Ben Shahn: Death on the beach (1945, New York)

Some people say that war and art don't go easy together. Art supposedly is better created in times of peace where the civilized human mind can be occupied by the virtues of contemplating and reflecting. Yes, maybe a storm is better observed and analyzed when you are not in the middle trying to survive but how can you reflect on something you haven't really experienced?

It doesn't happen that often that an entire group of artists get's involved in a war like it happened in 1870 to the impressionists. We are talking about Monet, Pisarrio, Boudin,Duran,Tissot and Manet. Manet was the only one keeping a journal and although he never transformed his experiences into a painting,his litho's speak for themselves.

Also photographs and television programms have contributed in a change of attitude among people. A shift from patriottic euphoria to accepting the reality of cruelties and the price that is being paid. Photographs have shown us more on what soldiers for example go through. A sober black and white image can be quite schocking, touching and disturbing.

When we see these images what do we look for, what do we see and what do we do?

Following are a few Images of war that I am using in the classroom right now:

Albrecht Altdorfer: The battle of Alexander (1529, Munich, Alte Pinakothek)

Paolo Uccello: the battle of San Romano (1456-1469, London, National Gallery)

Peter Paul Rubens: the battle at Anghiari (1505, Paris, Louvre)

John Singleton Copley: death of Major Peirson ( 1784, London, Tate Gallery)

James Gillray: Fear of the French invasion (1769, London, British Museum)

Roger Fenton (1819-1869: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/251_fen_ima.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/251_fen.html

Pablo Picasso: Guernica (New York)

Ben Shahn: This is Nazi brutality (1942, Washington, Library of congress)

Roy Lichtenstein: Whaam! (1963, London, Tate Gallery)