Influence of The Vietnam War on Art
This time in modernism, artists explored many new styles and vibrant colors with their art. The artist would often display their feelings and opinions towards the war at hand. It's appealing to see the detail and realism in each piece, as it makes the viewer understand how severe and chaotic wars can be. In this blog, I will explore six different pieces, and I don't think these artists were in favor of the war. Each piece is violent and chaotic and displays how harmful wars are. This war was known as the longest war in American history but also known as "the only American war ever lost." This is greatly reflected in the art in my blog.
Attack at Twilight (C. 1966 Hawaii)
Roger Blum, oil canvas
Blum painted a beautiful yet violent canvas while he was in Hawaii; he found inspiration for this piece when he witnessed a hut burning, also known as a "hooch." We can see this in the back left as the hut bursts into flames as the soldiers view it from afar. What I appreciate about this piece is the colors Blumm used primarily in the sky. The contrast between the warm and cool tones lets us know that the time of day is twilight; it helps create a mood and atmosphere. The lines in the sky help guide the viewer's eyes along the canvas. The piece's movement creates tension, particularly relevant in a scene of a violent attack. The contrast between light and dark values would be necessary in depicting twilight and highlighting the drama and intensity of the scene at play. These elements work together to create a meaningful and visual experience in capturing the feelings of fear of the soldiers.
I love the colors of this piece and find the sky very appealing, but this canvas has too much emotion attached to it, so I don't think it would be appropriate to display it anywhere besides a war museum. I believe if this piece was hung in a personal space, it would create a bad vibe for the room.
Roger Blumm, oil canvas
This is another piece by Blumm; we are presented with four armed soldiers wandering in a swamp. We see they are armed and on duty, and one can only imagine treading through thick mud and cold water. The use of muted, natural colors creates such a realistic atmosphere scene. We see shades of green, brown, and gray, which evoke the feeling of a swampy environment. The texture in the painting is presented in the foliage of the water, which helps add depth and realism. This allows the viewer to imagine the plants' roughness compared to the water's smoothness. The arrangement of the elements directs the viewer's eye throughout the canvas. At the same time, the central focus is often on the figures that are on patrol. These elements create a vivid and immersive experience, drawing the viewer into the detailed atmosphere the soldiers endured while on patrol. I enjoy viewing this painting, but I would not own it as the depth of this canvas makes me feel as if I'm stocking the soldiers and waiting for them to fall into a trap.
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Looking Down the Trail (C. 1967)
James Pollock, water painting
This is one of Pollock's most famous paintings, in which soldiers wade chest-high through a jungle swamp. This piece is crucial because Pollock experienced this scene in real life: "When I left the water, the other soldiers said I had better take off my boots and look myself over. My legs were covered in leeches." I admire this painting as it does a great job of presenting realism and can give the viewer a tiny sliver of how traumatic and brutal war can be.
One of the most striking elements of this painting is the use of texture, especially in displaying the ripple effect in the water. It not only gives us viewers a sense of direction but also guides our eyes around the canvas, revealing the beauty of the scene. The use of space can be seen in depth and perspective, creating a sense of distance as the trail recedes into the background. The color palette, with its natural earth tones and contrasts, adds to the beauty of the scene. This is a truly beautiful piece that should be displayed in a war museum, inviting viewers to admire and appreciate its beauty.
Over There (C. 1967)
Stephan Randall,
He writes, "I was a combat artist for the US Army in Vietnam in 1968. On some level, I still am. But now my passion is plein air painting. I paint what I see, just like then, but now with urgency to finish what I start- in the open and on location. Back then, I was given time to reflect on what I saw and then paint the people, places, and events from my experience with historical insight. As the war continued, so did the soldiers' artwork. This painting depicts when soldiers would call in airstrikes on the enemy lines. He mentions that you could hear the buzzing of the planes overhead, followed by loud explosions that shook the ground. This canvas is busy with one soldier calling air support, another pointing at enemy lines while holding a rifle, and another preparing for battle.
We see a mix of muted yet intense colors that convey the chaotic atmosphere of the battlefield. Dynamic and possibly chaotic lines express movement and the confusion caused by combat. Implied textures may give the viewer a sense of the rough, grimy, or smooth surfaces of various elements within the scene. I would not own this piece as I don't find it very appealing, and it is a messy canvas. This piece took a lot of work to find information on. I could not locate the piece's location or how it was created; my guess is oil painting or watercolor.
Man/Ready Vietnam (C.1966)
Paul Mac Willaims
This is by far my favorite piece in today's blog, as this canvas invites the viewer to engage and seek out the meaning of the art. It forces me to think about what the artist is trying to portray. I see soldiers walking back to camp after a long few days of battle; the use of red and orange makes me believe it's hot and humid, and they are exhausted. The spacing of the soldiers makes me think the one in front and on the phone may be the group commander. I love the shape, stylized and abstract, giving the piece a modern, distinctive look.
While I deeply appreciate this piece, I feel it's not one I would personally own. It's a canvas that carries a heavy emotional weight-exhaustion, fear, and grief. This intensity, I believe, makes it unsuitable for a personal space, where it could potentially overwhelm the viewer.
Medcap Vietnam (C.1970)
Hebert Brady
For my last piece, I decided to add a different scene of war: the aftermath. We are overloaded with injured patients when only two soldiers appear on duty. They seemed to be working under a little hut with little to no supplies, which was often the case. I cannot imagine the fear of those patients looking at all the sick and wounded people in front of them, knowing it may be hours till they get treated. Knowing that there may not be any supplies left for them. The fear of losing a family member or a friend and knowing that there's nothing they can do.
My favorite element in this is realism. Now, each figure does not have a ton of detail, but the details in the medical hut were vital for presenting the daily struggle of the lack of war supplies. We can see each figure is not well. I also enjoyed the color contrast of the earthy tones that give us a setting of them working outside and probably in a remote location, but then we see a bright red cross, implying a medical camp. The use of shadows and created depth allows viewers to comprehend that a large crowd is waiting to be helped. I would not own this as it is genuinely saddening.
Sources
“James Pollock (Artist).” Wikipedia, 31 Dec. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Pollock_(artist).
This is a heavy topic to choose. The pieces you chose were very appropriate and honest to the topic and situation. Each of them, to me at least, seem to contrast themselves in their subject matter and use of color. Each of the painings uses vibrant intense colors and yet the subject matter is dreary. You interpreted it another way in that the colors show the intensity of the situation and emotion. Interesting how people view things differently! I would have thought that black and white would be more appropriate personally, but that is the great thing about art, the artist gets to create how they see things and we can interpret them how we see them! So many layers are seen and formed.
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