War

Patrociño Barela, War, 1942, carved and stained pine, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.9
Patrociño Barela, War, 1942, carved and stained pine, 11 38711 14 in. (28.8180.43.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.9

Artwork Details

Title
War
Date
1942
Dimensions
11 38711 14 in. (28.8180.43.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and stained pine
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — weapon — gun
  • Object — other — flag
  • New Deal — Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project — New Mexico
  • Architecture — vehicle — tank
  • Occupation — military — soldier
  • History — United States — World War II
  • Figure group — male
  • Architecture — vehicle — airplane
Object Number
1985.65.9

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 (7 items)

Louis Maurer, Nathaniel Currier, Stamboul, ca. 1852-1884, hand-colored lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Graphic Arts, Smithsonian Institution, 1973.122.22
Stamboul
Dateca. 1852-1884
hand-colored lithograph on paper
Not on view
Louis Maurer, Nathaniel Currier, Thomas Worth, Ready for the Trot Bring up Your Horses, 1877, color lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Graphic Arts, Smithsonian Institution, 1973.122.34
Ready for the Trot Bring up Your Horses
Date1877
color lithograph on paper
Not on view
Louis Maurer, Nathaniel Currier, Mac, 1853, hand-colored lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Graphic Arts, Smithsonian Institution, 1973.122.35
Mac
Date1853
hand-colored lithograph on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Sarah Goodridge, Emily Appleton, ca. 1844, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1942.11.1
Emily Appleton
Dateca. 1844
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
John Trumbull, Mrs. Tredwell, 19th century, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.50.2
Mrs. Tredwell
Artist
Attributed to John Trumbull
Date19th century
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Henry Brintnell Bounetheau, Henry Du Pré Bounetheau, ca. 1849, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Henry Du Pré Bounetheau, 1946.3.7
Henry Du Pré Bounetheau
Dateca. 1849
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
George Catlin, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1830, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Bernard N. Burnstine, 1946.1.1
Portrait of a Gentleman
Dateca. 1830
watercolor on ivory
Not on view