Joseph Pennell's Pictures of War Work in America

Joseph Pennell's Pictures of War Work in America - Reproductions of a series of lithographs of munition works made by him with the permission and authority of the United States government, with notes and an introduction by the artist

I HAVE come back from the Jaws of Deathback from the Mouth of Hellto my own land, my own people. I have never passed such an exciting year in my lifeand beside, I hope I have been able to accomplish something in my work which shall show one phase of the Wonder of the Worlds Work of to-day. I was honoured a year ago by being permitted by the Rt. Hon. David Lloyd George, then Minister of Munitions in England, to make drawings in the various factories and works and shipyards which were engaged in war work in that countryand the records of what I saw were published as lithographs of War Work in England and in a previous volume in this series. Now, though I do not believe in war, I do not see why some pictorial record of what is being done to carry on the war should not be mademade from an artists standpointfor we are in itbeing in the worldbut I am not of it. When my workor as much of it as I was allowed to dowas finished and exhibited and publishedI was invited by the French Minister of Munitions, M. Albert Thomas, to visit the front and make studies of similar subjects in France, butowing to a combination of unfortunate circumstancesthough I went to France twice during the Summer of this year, I was unable to get anything of importance. This was my fault, or my misfortuneI failedand the memory of my failure will haunt me, and be a cause of regret to me, all my lifeunless I am able to wipe out my failurein another visit to France. But though I failed to make any drawingsany records of the subjects I was so freely shownI was shown on my two visits many subjects, which were supremely interesting, could I have but drawn themhad I been able to do so they would have been worth doing. Not only was I taken to the front, which was not the part I saw, picturesque, but I was also taken to see some of those parts of France which have been fought over, some of the towns which have been destroyed, some of the land which is desolate, and I have also seen some of the French munition factories. Then I came home, for I believe the place for an American at the present time is at home. And on my arrival I was authorized to make records by our Government similar to those I had made in England, and had failed to make in Francewhat I have done in the United States is shown in this book. I have had more opportunities of seeing what is being done in war work in England, France and the United States than any one elseand in a fashion that no one else has been permitted to see. I have seen war in the making. Yet I did not do these drawings with any idea of helping to win the war, but because for years I have been at workfrom my earliest drawingstrying to record The Wonder of Work, and work never was so wonderful as it is to-day. And never had any one such helpsuch aid, such encouragement given him to record its wonderand by the Governments of the three great countries which are engaged in this incredibly horrible, absolutely unnecessary war, easily avoided war, to quote a British Statesman. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 48923
Author: Pennell, Joseph
Release Date: May 10, 2015
Format: eBook
Language: English