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
Patrociño Barela, Progression in War, ca. 1935-1943, carved and stained pine, 11 1471 341 14 in. (28.6182.33.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.8

Artwork Details

Title
Progression in War
Date
ca. 1935-1943
Dimensions
11 1471 341 14 in. (28.6182.33.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and stained pine
Classifications
Subjects
  • 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

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.

Works by this artist (11 items)

Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Man with Beard, Closed Eyes, Tie), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.595, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Man with Beard, Closed Eyes, Tie)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Table Top with Water Glass and Salt Shaker), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.597, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Table Top with Water Glass and Salt Shaker)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Workshirt Front), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.599, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Workshirt Front)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Man's Face Wearing Hat and Sunglasses), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.603, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Man’s Face Wearing Hat and Sunglasses)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Bently
Dateca. 1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view