Der Kriegsausbruch, which translates to Declaration of War, painted by German artist Max Beckmann portrays a group of German citizens crowded around a newspaper reading the headline, clearly about Germany's declaration of war and entrance into the conflict of World War I. On their faces one can observe countenances of confusion, fear, panic, and even anger representing Beckmann's anti-war sentiments and personal disgust for Germany's hasty involvement in the conflict.
Machine-gun, painted by C.W.R. Nevinson, shows the battlefield of World War I from the unique cubist perspective. Nevinson latched on to the strong lines and geometric patterns of the machinegun and other war machinery and depicts it in a very abstract, unique style not often associated with wartime painting. The angular faces of the soldiers make them look almost mechanical, emphasizing the mechanical, brutish nature of the conflict, the likes of which had never been seen before.
The Filling Factory, painted by English artist Charles Ginner, provides an artistic representation of the concept of total war that was embraced by many nations involved in World War I. In the painting one can see hard working British women working on the floor of a factory, creating artillery shells to be used on the front in France. Unable to contribute in military efforts on the front, these women took it upon themselves to provide support in other ways, in this case providing munitions for the men engaged in active duty on the mainland.
No comments:
Post a Comment