The Harsh realities of WW2 and it's influence on Mid Modern Art

 The second world war was one that shook the world in it's scale and stakes. With fighting around the globe and atrocities committed at a massive scale, the atmosphere of the time was bleak and those left behind to keep up "regular" life felt the effects of the conflict raging in neighboring countries. When we think of art from this time we often recall U.S propaganda posters of uncle sam and Rosie the riveter, calling Americans to support the war effort. However, the U.S wasn't the only ally country to participate in the war and many of the victories and achievements made by the U.S was thanks to support from a country much closer to the front lines: The United Kingdom. While many citizens who were left behind in the U.S saw the effects of the war, they were spared from the immediate dangers like bombings and raids. The same cannot be said for the United Kingdom, and the art that was produced in the country during this time period gives us a unique insight to how the war threatened the way of life of an entire country, seemingly overnight. 

South Hampton Row, Ernest Boye Uden, London, 1941

The depiction of London in South Hampton Row looks like it came straight out of an apocalyptic reality. Uden uses a muted and limited color palette to convey the wreckage of the great city after German bombing raids decimated the city. The piece gives us the feeling that something terrible has happened and conveys an eerie quietness for a city that should otherwise be bustling. The use of negative space in the fog and fading buildings does well to play into this theme as well. The simple line work in the buildings and overlap he encorporates gives the structures an almost fragile feeling and the buildings seem monolithic like memorials to what the city use to be.

Sleeping in the Shelter, Edward Ardizzone, London, 1940

Like the piece South Hampton Row, Sleeping in the Shelter displays the toll that WW2 took on the British way of life. In his piece, Ardizzone uses muted tones and simple lines to convey the weariness and despair of the British citizens during the war. The dark shadows lead us to the conclusion that the subjects are hiding from something and the facial expressions are ones of defeat and fatigue which work to show how the toll of war shook the country to its core. The emotions that the piece gives us is those of hopelessness and anxiety for what is inevitably to come. 

An Escalator in an Underground Factory, Frank Dobson, London, 1944

In this piece the artist, Frank Dobson conveys a similar tone as that of Sleeping in the Shelter and we can see the figures descending down a dark, heavily fortified tunnel in route to support the British war effort. The painting features dark colors and shadows that give off an ominous feeling and the figures interlocking arms while making their way down show the courage of those left behind to supply the front lines. The heavy use of red and browns work to give a dirty and worn down tone to the factory entrance and the contrasting colors of the figures and their clothes work to give an air of hope in the face of adversity.

Shoe Lane, Leonard Rosoman, London, 1940

Another example of the hard climate of London during WW2 can be seen in Rosoman's Shoe Lane piece. The blurred imagery of bricks falling from the building wall gives motion and kinetic energy to the artwork and gives feelings of panic. The use of reds and oranges resemble an explosion and adds to the urgency within the piece and gives a unique look at the dangers of the war. The shadow figures painted under the wall are simple but very telling in their body language and add to the sense of scale of the disaster going on.

Women and Children in the Tube, Henry Moore, London, 1940

In Henry Moore's piece the dispair felt is at an all time high. The figures are painted like statues in a black and white state with expressionless faces and the characters in the background seem to fade away into obscurity. The very limited color choices give the piece a barren and depressing tone and everything feels cold and lifeless. This piece gives a very unique look into the hopelessness and uncertainties caused by a massive war and lends well to how most of the country felt during WW2.

St Paul's Cathedral, Louisa Puller, London, 1941

In this piece by Louisa Puller we see another perspective of the aftermath of German bombing raids over London. If the first piece didn't convey the devastation then this piece works to fill in the gaps by giving audiences a broader scope of the damage done by the Axis power. The use of yellow color gives us a unique perspective on the time the piece could have been incepted and the circumstances behind the inspiration. To me the piece conveys what the citizens may have woken up to after a night of bombings. Almost like walking outside to assess the damage after a late night storm, the city bathed in sunlight from a rising sun and for miles buildings are in shambles or demolished and the roads are empty which, like the first piece, gives an eerie feeling to a city that should otherwise be busy and full of life. The yellow tone also suggests that the city is now barren, almost like a desert which would resemble the yellow tones the artist uses.

For more Mid Modern pieces from WW2 feel free to use the link below!

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

Works Cited:

1. "10 Paintings of Wartime London." Imperial War Museums, www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-paintings-of-wartime-london. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

2. "War Artists Advisory Committee | Art UK." Art UK, artuk.org/discover/curations/war-artists-advisory-committee. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.