World War I and the Visual Arts

This digital edition of World War I and the Visual Arts presents The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin from Fall 2017. Written by Jennifer Farrell, with a contribution from Donald J. La Rocca, it examines how artists responded to the first modern war. This PDF is available for instant download after purchase.

The bulletin accompanies the exhibition “World War I and the Visual Arts,” on view at The Met until January 7, 2018. It draws primarily from the museum’s collection of works on paper, supplemented with loans from private collections.

Book Overview

Published on the centenary of World War I, this issue explores the myriad and often contradictory ways artists reacted to the conflict. Ranging from bellicose enthusiasm to regret, grief, and anger, the selected works include prints, photographs, drawings, propaganda posters, postcards, and commemorative medals.

The presentation moves chronologically from mobilization in early August 1914 through the decade after the November 1918 armistice. It also considers nationalistic rhetoric, the power of modern military weapons, daily life in the trenches, and the destruction of cultural sites, the natural environment, and humanity itself.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• Responses to the war by artists from diverse backgrounds and aesthetic schools.
• Works by Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Natalia Goncharova, John Copley, Charles Camoin, Max Beckmann, and Marsden Hartley.
• Images of mobilization, recruiting, soldiers’ self-portraits, and battlefield experience.
• The influence of Futurism, Vorticism, and avant-garde experimentation on war art.
• A museum-based survey of propaganda, commemoration, and personal expression during World War I.

Why This Book Matters

This bulletin offers a considered art-historical view of a defining modern conflict. It shows how artists made visible the beliefs and emotions associated with World War I, from spiritual hope to deep mourning. For readers interested in museum collections, twentieth-century art, and the centenary of the war, it provides meaningful context and visual documentation.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, so no physical item will be shipped. Access is available immediately after purchase through your download link.

The PDF is compatible with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, and mobile reading apps that support PDF files.

FAQ

Can I access this book immediately after purchase?
Yes, this digital edition is available for instant download after checkout.

Will a physical copy be shipped?
No, this is a PDF download only. There is no printed book or physical delivery.

Which devices are supported?
The PDF works with common reading apps, including Kindle apps, tablets, and desktop and mobile devices.

This scholarly bulletin is a concise guide to the visual art of World War I and a thoughtful addition to any digital library.