Military Representation in Art: Individual Truth vs. Universal Truth

Mid-Century Modern art refers to the artwork that was created in the mid-1900's, around 1940-1960. During this time period, multiple major events took place including World War 2. World War 2 dramatically influenced art in similar ways to World War 1; however, there were a few key differences in how the events were put onto canvas. Following the mid-modern era, was the post-modern era. Post-modern extends from the late 1900's to present day. Post-modern art is constantly changing and shifting. Although the time period plays a major role into each of these artistic eras, there are some other artistic differences that differentiate the two. Mid-modern artwork often sought to convey universal truths. They looked for ways to show things as fact and the artists often took on assumptions that there was only one "correct" way to view something. Post-modern artists challenged this approach by instead turning their focus to the idea that one event can have many different perspectives. Instead of universal truths, genres within post-modern art focus more on subject representations.

Mid-Modern


A House Collapsing on Two Firemen by Leonard Rosoman, 1940, London

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-paintings-of-wartime-london

A House Collapsing on Two Firemen was done by Leonard Rosoman who was a firefighter himself during London. The scene he painted is of his own memory and he was haunted by the events and death of one of the men shown (iwm.org). A few things that make this piece distinctly mid-modern is that it incorporates abstract elements, although not inherently abstract itself. The colors are displayed more as precise blobs and there is little intentional blending. The firemen themselves are also shown more as silhouettes and lack intricate detail. This painting leaves little room for personal interpretation. It shows the event exactly as it occurred and shares something that in the artist's mind would have been a "universal truth". The wall collapsed and two firemen struggled to survive. It doesn't aim to show the artist's personal feelings on the matter much beyond that.


In the Shelter by Edward Ardizzone, 1940, London

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-paintings-of-wartime-london

Similar to Rosoman's piece, Ardizzone uses more of a silhouette approach to showing people. There is slightly more detail to the people in this painting, yet they still are fairly undistinguishable from each other. In the Shelter once again is picking a very specific scene and depicting it in a way that leaves little interpretation by the viewer. The muted colors and the lack of energy tells the viewer exactly what the artist is intending them to feel, gloomy or distraught. 


One: Number 31, 1950 by Jackson Pollock, 1950, New York

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/post-war-american-art/new-york-school/a/the-impact-of-abstract-expressionism

Jackson Pollock is a well know and influential artist of the mid-modern era. His artwork is highly abstract. Even the titles provide little clues to some deeper meaning. One: Number 31, 1950 was created in New York, where abstract expressionism was very common. The art form was popular in the United States, especially following World War 2. According to Kandice Rawlings, PhD, "Abstract Expressionist painters rejected representational forms, seeking an art that communicated on a monumental scale the artist's inner state in a universal visual language" (Rawlings). Although abstract art on the surface seems to not be about a "universal truth" it does however, as Rawlings emphasizes, utilize the universal visual means to convey something. In the case of Pollock's painting, the dark colors carry the lack of colorful joyfulness, which may reflect Pollock's lack of happiness. This would be fitting considering the fact that it was following a World War 2 and there was much to be grieved.

Post-Modern

The Non-War Memorial by Edward Kienholz, 1970, New York

https://blog.lalouver.com/post/163231531154/ed-kienholz-initially-conceived-the-non-war

By 1970, a new era of art was beginning to contradict the mid-modern ideas of "universal truth". Post-modern art began to rise with the idea that things didn't have just one "right" meaning, rather a collection of personal interpretations. This also opened the door for some new art styles like street art to become more popular. Kienholz constructed this very unique piece called The Non-War Memorial. It was created as a representation of the lives lost during the Vietnam war. Although Kienholz originally had the vision of laying hundreds of these headless uniforms around, due to space constraints he took a different approach. Instead, he placed five of these uniforms around an alter with a book containing thousands of pictures of uniforms. Each uniform in the book is also lifeless and without a head (LALouver). His art work calls to the viewer to ponder what the war means to them and challenges them to look within themselves for their own personal feelings about the Vietnam war. This is much different than previous artworks from the mid-modern era that were aimed more towards displaying the artists' emotions rather than the viewers'.


Girl Frisking Soldier by Bansky, 2024, Bethlehem

https://streetartutopia.com/2024/10/14/girl-frisking-soldier-banksy-in-bethlehem/

Street art is one style that emerged during the late 1900's and continues to be a popular art form today. One recent example that speaks to the conflict in Gaza is Bansky's Girl Frisking Soldier. This piece was done on the side of a road in Bethlehem. This depiction of a little girl patting down a soldier instead of the other way around forces the viewer to think about what is happening in a different context. Soldiers frisking down civilians, including children, probably is a common occurrence that has lost of its shock amongst the locals. They may have suppressed the deep emotions and categorized it as something that "just happens" or something you will "just get used to". By showing it the other way around, Bansky is creating a unique scene that breaks the norm and helps the viewer think more deeply. In the time of the internet, it also raises questions and awareness amongst those worldwide who are not directly impacted by the events in Gaza. Yet again, the artwork is centered on the viewers' unique emotions over that of only the artist. 

Vietnam Women's Memorial Statue by Glenna Goodacre, 1993, Washington D.C.


The Vietnam Women's Memorial Statue was dedicated in 1993. This statue is not much different from the other post-modern artistic displays I've already covered. It's main goal is to draw out the deep emotions of the viewer. Goodacre focuses on adding a lot of fluid motion to the people she is sculpting. The fallen soldier is slouched over while you can see the woman leaning over to support him. This could represent the way that women were a support to male soldiers in the war or simply be about women playing a role in the war. Either way, you are drawn to the deep emotions of the woman and the fluid motions make the people easier to connect with as people, rather than just a statue. 


Sources:

    "10 Paintings of Wartime London". https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-paintings-of-wartime-london. Accessed April 15, 2025

    Rawlings, Kandice, "Post War American Art: New York". https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/post-war-american-art/new-york-school/a/the-impact-of-abstract-expressionism. Accessed April 15, 2025

    "Ed Kienholz Conceived The Non War Memorial". https://blog.lalouver.com/post/163231531154/ed-kienholz-initially-conceived-the-non-war.Accessed April 15, 2025

    Vidar, "Girl Frisking Soldier: Bansky's Provocative Statement on Authority in the West Bank".https://streetartutopia.com/2024/10/14/girl-frisking-soldier-banksy-in-bethlehem/. Accessed April 15, 2025

    "Vietnam Women's Memorial" https://www.nps.gov/places/000/vietnam-womens-memorial.htm#:~:text=The%20Vietnam%20Women's%20Memorial%20was,caring%20for%20a%20fallen%20soldier. Accessed April 16, 2025

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