credit: On the Wire - Harvey Thomas Dunn, Oil on canvas, 1918
Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
The First World War remade the world geopolitically and transformed how societies engage and relate to military conflict.
Artistic expression during the war contributed to this transformation. Before World War I, war art largely depicted heroic military leaders and romanticized battles, done long after the fact, far from the battlefield. The First World War marked a turning point with the appearance of artwork intended to capture the moment in a realistic way, by first-hand participants.
This exhibition examines this form of artistic expression from two complementary perspectives: one, professional artists who were recruited by the U.S. Army; the other, soldiers who created artwork. Together they shed light on World War I in a compelling and very human way.
This exhibition is also a rare occasion to view Belgian war lace from the National Museum of American History’s textile collection. During the German occupation, Belgian women turned to ancient lace-making traditions to express their gratitude to the American public for the food aid received through the Commission for Relief in Belgium.
A collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of American History.
For more information, click here.
This event is part of the European Month of Culture (EUMC). Now in its fifth year, EUMC is a month-long festival of innovative and creative events for the American public highlighting the diverse cultures of all 28 European Union Member countries. Enjoy film, dance, music, theatre, exhibits, language classes, workshops and more in great venues throughout Washington DC. Most events are free! To see all EUMC events, click here.
