Progression in War

Patrociño Barela, Progression in War, ca. 1935-1943, carved and stained pine, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.8
Copied Patrociño Barela, Progression in War, ca. 1935-1943, carved and stained pine, 11 1⁄4 x 71 3⁄4 x 1 1⁄4 in. (28.6 x 182.3 x 3.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.8

Artwork Details

Title
Progression in War
Artist
Date
ca. 1935-1943
Location
Dimensions
11 1⁄4 x 71 3⁄4 x 1 1⁄4 in. (28.6 x 182.3 x 3.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and stained pine
Classifications
Keywords
  • Architecture — vehicle — airplane
  • Figure group — male
  • History — United States — World War II
  • Occupation — military — soldier
  • Travel — air — parachute
  • Architecture — vehicle — tank
  • New Deal — Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project — New Mexico
  • Occupation — political — diplomat
Object Number
1985.65.8
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1985.65.8

Artwork Description

Patrociño Barela brought the rough, “untaught” style of his carvings of saints to these reliefs, which read like storyboards describing the chaotic, violent events leading up to World War II. Like many American artists working in the 1930s, Barela saw the events unfolding in Europe and Asia and saw a new conflict on the horizon. Progression in War tells a story from left to right: from the head-to-head discussion between political leaders, to invasion by air and land, to violent confrontation between individual soldiers. War has a similar progression, and we can see a soldier raising the American flag on a battleground, a man being measured, and military aircraft in the skies.