Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art
Leigh Kimmel
list of Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art. I've worked up a sort of
list, but since I tend to have strong interests in just a few
particular areas, I'm figuring that it may well be skewed towards those
areas and overlooking important other areas. Thus I've decided to ask
for some other perspectives on what pieces would be most suitable --
especially in the ancient and the non-western areas, where I'm *really*
at sea.
My tentative list:
1. One of the ancient Greek vase paintings showing a scene from the
Trojan War (any suggestions as to which one would be best?)
2. Trajan's Column
3. Something from Central Asia -- perhaps India or the Middle East
4. Something from East Asia -- either China or Japan
5. Something representing the Mesoamerican civilizations -- perhaps one
of the codexes?
6. Something from the Renniassance
7. "George Washington Crossing the Delaware"
8. JMW Turner's "Battle of Trafalgar"
9. Pablo Picasso's "Guernica"
10. Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Speech"
If anyone could make suggestions as to what might best fill some of
these slots, or might better fill slots than items I've already listed,
please let me know. I want this article to be as objective as possible,
not just a reflection of my personal biases and tastes.
Thanks in advance.
--
One terrified boy and the girl who would save him.
"Claws of Vengeance" on sale now
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Leigh Kimmel -- writer, artist and historian
leigh...@geocities.com
http://members.tripod.com/~kimmel/lhkwebpage.html
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Check out my bookstore http://members.tripod.com/~kimmel/bookstore/
Nada
but you may want to consider Peter Paul Rubens' 'Horrors of
War' (I've also seen it referred to as 'Consequences of
War'.) It's an allegorical painting, with Mars (God of War)
lead on by a fury, trampling various unfortunates. Venus
does her best to stop him, to no avail. Rubens himself
described in a letter what the whole thing means and any
book on the painter should have this explanation.
Rubens knew a thing or two about war, being a diplomat who
negotiated a peace treaty between England and Spain.
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Scarlett
"Leigh Kimmel" <leigh...@geocities.com> wrote in message
news:sfbubl5...@corp.supernews.com...
: As part of an article I've been commissioned to write, I'm to provide a
: list of Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art. I've worked up a sort of
: list, but since I tend to have strong interests in just a few
: particular areas, I'm figuring that it may well be skewed towards those
: areas and overlooking important other areas. Thus I've decided to ask
: for some other perspectives on what pieces would be most suitable --
: especially in the ancient and the non-western areas, where I'm *really*
: at sea.
One of my favorites: Goya's "Third of May"
I'll bet Erik will know some great Meso-American art by name & date. I'm
drawing a blank but visually can see some wonderfully horrific Aztec (?) art
of violent battle scenes.
--
Scarlett
Website:
http://ScarlettDecker.homestead.com
Art Beyond Borders:
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"Do you know what he needs?
Two or three shock treatments," Mary George said.
"Get that artist business out of his head once and for all."
(from "The Enduring Chill" by Flannery O'Connor)
Erik A. Mattila
Scarlett wrote:
> "Leigh Kimmel" <leigh...@geocities.com> wrote in message
> news:sfbubl5...@corp.supernews.com...
> : As part of an article I've been commissioned to write, I'm to provide a
> : list of Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art. I've worked up a sort of
> : list, but since I tend to have strong interests in just a few
> : particular areas, I'm figuring that it may well be skewed towards those
> : areas and overlooking important other areas. Thus I've decided to ask
> : for some other perspectives on what pieces would be most suitable --
> : especially in the ancient and the non-western areas, where I'm *really*
> : at sea.
> :
> One of my favorites: Goya's "Third of May"
>
> I'll bet Erik will know some great Meso-American art by name & date. I'm
> drawing a blank but visually can see some wonderfully horrific Aztec (?) art
> of violent battle scenes.
I agree about Goya. But I'm drawing a mesoamerican blank myself. I can recall
several depictions of victory and captives etc. but I can't think of any
depictions of the battle itself.
On the other hand, there's a whole series of so-called "Ledger Drawings" in the
Northern Plains, that depict warriors on horseback, shooting Custer types.
That may qualify. The interesting thing, come to think of it, is that these
drawings seem to focus on an individual's achievement, rather a grand depiction
of an army showing tactical movidas etc.
Here's where to look at some:
http://collectorsguide.com/fa/fa056.shtml
http://www.tribalarts.com/feature/plains/index.html
Erik
Tomi Holmberg
> 4. Something from East Asia -- either China or Japan
how about the army of 3000 real-sized sculpted warriors who guard the
grave of the one (dunno about the name) died ex-ruler in china?
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Lauri Levanto
It may not be artistically appreciated, but shows a special point of
view.
- lauri
Leigh Kimmel wrote:
>
> As part of an article I've been commissioned to write, I'm to provide a
> list of Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art. I've worked up a sort of
> list, but since I tend to have strong interests in just a few
> particular areas, I'm figuring that it may well be skewed towards those
> areas and overlooking important other areas. Thus I've decided to ask
> for some other perspectives on what pieces would be most suitable --
> especially in the ancient and the non-western areas, where I'm *really*
> at sea.
>
> My tentative list:
>
> 1. One of the ancient Greek vase paintings showing a scene from the
> Trojan War (any suggestions as to which one would be best?)
>
> 2. Trajan's Column
>
> 3. Something from Central Asia -- perhaps India or the Middle East
>
> 4. Something from East Asia -- either China or Japan
>
Jaxart
says...
>
>As part of an article I've been commissioned to write, I'm to provide a
>list of Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art.
I think the sticking point in selecting on a global basis
is the 'famous' part. I can think of all sorts of paintings,
bas reliefs, etc that depict scenes of warring folk but
how famous any are is a matter of acculturation. Would make
a difference who your audience will be too. For example,
in North America alone there are a ton of paintings depicting
various battle scenes -- everything from western ones to those
dating back to the earliest encounters with 'revolutionaries.'
Then there is the question of photographs as 'art.' Mathew Brady and
his Civil War images comes to mind. I am acquainted with a
gentleman by the name of Tom Lea who painted battle scenes for
the USA magazine LIFE during WWII. His paintings are 'famous'
in some circles and he is a painter of some reknown in the
several-state region in which he lives. The most famous 'art'
work to come out of WWII is probably the Iwo Jima memorial
in D.C. and the photograph that inspired it. And then there
is the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. -- one of the finest examples
of minimalism I can think of and one of the most powerful
works of art extant for many people.
--
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For a unique art experience visit:
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4th_Doctor
into my mind. There were several illustrators who did paintings
(oil, gouache, watercolor) covering battle scenes of the US
Civil War, WWI, WWII, and a few into the Korean Conflice (though
by then photography had taken over).
There are also some wonderful Inca and Ancient Egyptian works
addressing the issues of war and conquest. Check out some
archeology texts.
Good Luck, I would love to see the article when it's complete.
The Doc
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Andrew Werby
Jaxart wrote in message <38f71...@oracle.zianet.com>...
>In article <sfbubl5...@corp.supernews.com>, leigh...@geocities.com
>says...
>>
>>As part of an article I've been commissioned to write, I'm to provide a
>>list of Ten Famous Depictions of War in Art.
>
>I think the sticking point in selecting on a global basis
>is the 'famous' part.
[I agree with Jax. It seems like you've decided to include examples from
each major cultural group you could think of, even though depictions of war
aren't a major part of their artistic heritage. The Chinese, for instance,
used art to induce a contemplative mood- war scenes don't seem to have been
considered acceptable decor. What examples there may be aren't very
well-known. If you are a member of Western society, then what you consider
"Famous" will be also be influenced by that fact. Anyway, put in my vote for
the Bayeaux (sp?) Tapestry, depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066.]
Andrew Werby
http://unitedartworks.com
christopher moss
2 Goya's "3rd of May"
3 The Hiroshima Murals in Japan (I forget the name of the couple who
painted them)
4 Poussin's "Rape of the Sabine Women"
5 Albercht Altdorfer's "Battle of Issus"
6 There may be some pictures by Turner that depict battleships and the
like, not sure though because I'm not too familiar with his oeuvre.
7 What about some German first and second generation expressionists?
Beckmann, Grosz, Dix, Kollwitz.
8 Balthus "Still Life" thought to be an allegory of war, it shows a
knife jamed in some bread and a broken glass on a table top (it's a
streach I know)
9 Miro "Still life with an old shoe" another allegorical painting about
the spanish civil war.
10 Alexander Gardner "Home of a rebel sharpshooter" a photograph. I don
know for sure but there may be more (there's got to be)
Also try Winslow Homer, Theodore Gericault, Benjamin West, and any
atists who've lived in times of war. Hope this helps.
-cm
JCMandel
painting depicting scores of soldiers, victims of mustard gas, marching
blindfolded across a barren plain."Gassed," Aug. 1918. 90 ˝ x 240. Very
powerful, and unlike most "Sargents" I've ever seen.
One of the most powerful anti-war paintings of the German Expressionist era is
a self-portrait by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner from 1915 at the art gallery at
Oberlin College. Although he is in a soldier's uniform, he is obviously a
painter in his studio, but his right hand is severed. Kirchner's hand was not
really severed in the war, but the poor fellow did end up committing suicide.To
see a reproduction go to
http://www.art-ww1.com/fr/texte/010text.html This site has many paintings from
WW I.
Leigh Kimmel
was going to do it, but I ended up having more than enough
possibilities, and I had to struggle with which to leave out.
Stafford Ordahl
thalia
>At the (fairly) recent Sargent show at the National Gallery, there was a huge
>painting depicting scores of soldiers, victims of mustard gas, marching
>blindfolded across a barren plain."Gassed," Aug. 1918. 90 ½ x 240. Very
>powerful, and unlike most "Sargents" I've ever seen.
I agree...very disturbing. But talk about disturbing...
how about the entire Goya series of etchings, The
Disasters of War? That says more about war than
all the other suggestions put together. And it's
entirely up to date. A recent "Disasters" exhibition
at the Meadows Museum in Dallas interspersed
photos from recent conflicts such as Bosnia,
Somalia, Kosovo. The 1990s photos eerily and
perfectly echoed many of Goya's images. Will
nothing ever change?
Thalia