Early Modern Blog, by Jasper Carpenter.

 Early Modern Blog, by Jasper Carpenter. 

The Influence of World War I  

A Dawn, 1914 by Charles Richard Wynne (a.k.a. C.R.W.) Nevinson. 

Nevinson is considered the definitive British artist of the First World War. This particular painting is set in Flanders, part of Belgium, France and the Netherlands. It hauntingly transports the viewer to the time when French soldiers, known as poilus, marched to the trenches that would become the stuff of their living nightmares. Little did they know what horrors awaited them there. These soldiers were not volunteers, and instead were conscripted. The uniforms worn by the soldiers appear dark blue with grey and black, interspersed with reds, oranges and browns. The shapes remind me of cubism with the geometric shapes of the faces and bodies, and the weapons held by the soldiers, as well as on the buildings. There is a solemnity to the marching as the head to the trenches, many to their deaths. You can almost hear the footsteps in unison on the streets, as they walk through the streets.





Canadian Gunners in the Mud, Passchendaele.


Painted by Lieutenant Alfred Theodore Joseph Bastien, held in the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. Passchendaele was extremely muddy because of heavy, non-stop rainfall. Perhaps the guns got stuck in the mud on top of the uneven terrain, making it difficult to move them across the land. The colors in the sky and on the fields are stunning yet somber. I’m not sure if the gold and orange are from fires or from the sunrise/sunset. Wet mud has a distinctive smell and sound to it. The squelching from footsteps in the mud. Caked into their uniforms and boots. It must have been truly awful.



A sketch of an unknown soldier from the Somme, 1916.



The Imperial War Museum has many sketches and drawings from soldiers. The simplicity of this sketch does not detract from the detail we can see. The texture of the man’s uniform, boots, face, and gun, are so vivid despite being only a sketch. The position of the soldier’s feet makes you almost feel and hear the movement. Perhaps they knew each other or at least greeted one another as they passed by.












“6 Stunning First World War Artworks by Women War Artists.” Imperial War Museums, 2018, www.iwm.org.uk/history/6-stunning-first-world-war-artworks-by-women-war-artists.


“Official Art - Canadian Gunners in the Mud, Passchendaele.” Canada and the First World War, www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/objects-and-photos/art-and-culture/official-art/canadian-gunners-in-the-mud-passchendaele/?back=1570&anchor=1897.


“First World War Sketchbook Volume 1 - Unknown Soldier, Somme 1916.” Imperial War Museums, 2019, www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/13360. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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Comments

  1. LouisaApril 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM

    You chose an interesting painting. Also, the painting that caught my eye was by the artist Nevinson. He captured the soldiers' mood as they marched. It has a distinct style, with geometric shapes. You can also see a bit of fear because the soldiers don't know what awaits them. Not only in this painting, but also in the others you chose.

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  2. dakotaApril 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM

    What is interesting about what you chose to tell us about. It is a bit unappealing that these pictures have a great connection but you did not include a relation to all. However, this is great educational topic to learn about for early modern art. This was a great time where art was expressing emotional connection to the people going through this experience. You did a great job on this!

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  3. AN.DuncansonApril 8, 2025 at 12:00 AM

    This is an amazing blog post. I love the sensory details you add to get a more rounded experience of the art, how not only are we seeing it, but we're feeling it, too. I think out of the artworks you shared, my favorite is "A Dawn". Something about the simplicity of the shapes and colors is beautiful, and it adds to this sense of uniform solidarity throughout the piece. I especially love the perspective of a full city street. It's so simple, but has so much impact on the meaning! You can feel the weight of the painting as they march together. The Canadian Gunners in the Mud piece is striking as well. Despite being stuck in mud, I like the interpretation of the bright warm colors in the background being a sunset or sunrise, as if to signal a new hope or new day. It's hopeful, something to look forward to and move on from despite the circumstances.

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  4. MelindaApril 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM

    I like that you kept the same theme throughout your post. Each part of a war, as the soldiers march to an uncertainty, regardless ready to go knowing they may not come back. The description of the muddy land in the second painting, it would make sense that their guns were stuck due to terrain (I wonder why they didn't think of that before taking them out there if it actually rained so much). And the sketch of a soldier, I have had friends go off to war, and seeing this brought back some memories, some good...I suppose nostalgic seeing as there were a couple pictures here and there, but the ones that were drawn were something I held dear. I think you did a wonderful job. Thank you-Melinda

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