Romanticism vs. Realism

 

Mid Modern Art

    The longest war in American history prior to 2002 was the Vietnam war, and it was the only war that was ever considered a loss. From 1954-1975 the United States and many other countries from the Southeast Asia Treaty fought alongside the Republic of South Vietnam against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. This war brought many changes and effected many people. The art from this time reflects that.

Attack at Twilight, by Roger Blum 1966

    Roger Blum served the Vietnam War and painted Attack at Twilight in 1966 while in Hawaii. He was part of the Vietnam Combat Artists Program that was established through the United States Arm Art Program. The program was meant to pictorially document the Vietnam War. The painting shows a burning hut during twilight. Blum used acrylic paint to show dramatic lighting to emphasize the emotion of the painting. The cool blue colors mixed with the dark red does a great job to depict the violent destruction that is happening, and the flames give the painting a feeling of movement. The placement and detail put into the soldier creates the feel of depth in the painting. This painting would be nice to look at in a museum, but it is not for me. I think this would be considered as part of the photorealism style since it is trying to show what was happening at the time, although it is not very detailed.

    Another painting by Blum that I also think would be of the photorealism style is “Swamp Patrol or Patrol in the Jungle” which was also painted in 1966. 

Swamp Patrol or Patrol in the Jungle, by Roger Blum

    The painting illustrates what it is like to trench through a swampy jungle during the Vietnam War. The use of the blue and cool colors gives off an eerie feeling and highlights the darkness of the jungle. I think the painting also does a great job of giving the feeling of the anxiety that the soldiers must have felt during such uncertain and dangerous times. The size of the soldier when compared to the elements of the jungle gives a sense of how the soldiers felt the jungle was massive and never ending. This painting makes me feel too anxious so I don’t think I would want to look at it everyday in my home, office, or anywhere. 

                                                                Looking Down the Trail, by James Pollock 1967

    James Pollock was also part of the Vietnam Combat Artists Program. This painting is considered a bridge between abstract and concrete style of painting. I would say that it is more abstract even though there is not absence of subject matter. It uses many different colors to reflect the feeling of texture. The light cool colors once again do a great job of giving the feeling of gloom and anxiety. If you look closely at the painting, you can see it is a solder walking through a swampy area surrounded by trees. However, if you’re not really paying attention to the details of the soldier and the way he is facing, it almost appears to be a soldier walking away with wings coming from his back, like an angel soldier walking away from a battle. I think it is an interesting painting and it really makes you think about what it was like in that moment. 

    Another painting by James Pollock that I think would be considered abstract is “Waiting Interrogation”.

Waiting Interrogation, by James Pollock 1967

    It was painted in 1967 as well. The painting shows what appears to be two soldiers who are blind folded and wearing rags for clothes waiting to be interrogated, just like the title says. The stokes of the artist’s brush and the dark colors used give the painting a sense of depth. There are no real defined lines in this painting, and it almost appears messy. I think that makes the feeling of the craziness of the times come across. The dark colors along with the cool colors make the painting feel cold which is probably what the two soldiers where actually feeling at the time. 

Welcome Relief, by Kenneth J. Scowcroft 1967

    Welcome Relief was painted by Kenneth Scowcroft who was another artist who was part of the Vietnam Combat Artists Program. I think this painting would fall into the photorealism style of painting. It is trying to capture a moment and is painted as though it could be an actual picture. It is not as detailed as some are but does a good job of capturing a moment in time that should not be forgotten. This painting appears to be of a moment when soldiers are returning for some rest after a long period of fighting, or even the moment before they are getting on a plane to go home. The soldiers appear close to the front of the painting with a lingering and lasting background which gives it depth. The stokes of greens that represent the grass show movement, as if the wind is blowing from the movement of the helicopter blades. The soldiers holding on to their helmets also suggests that the wind is blowing hard with great strength. There is a tiny hut and trees in the background which does a good job of depicting them as walking away from something. The bright colors give off a sense of relief, as stated in the title. I like this painting and wouldn’t mind looking at it every day. It really does make you feel relief and different type of calmness. 

    Another photorealistic painting by Kenneth Scowcroft however does not give me the same feelings. 

The Innocent, by Kenneth J. Scowcroft 1967

    The Innocent was also painted in 1967. It is a painting of what appears to be a young mother holding her dead baby son. It is not about soldiers fighting in Vietnam, but it shows you the truth of how the war effected civilians as well. The dark background highlights the pain the woman is feeling along with the tears running down her face. She is painted as wearing black, which she might have been wearing but I think plays another part in the overall feeling of the painting. Just like the boy is painted in white making him the center of attention and suggests his innocence. This painting evokes the feeling of grief and agony. You can see so many emotions in the woman’s face, anger, hatred, pain, sadness, hopelessness, and confusion. I think all these emotions are an excellent way of explaining what it felt like during Vietnam. I would not want to look at this painting every day, but I think it should definitely be displayed for all to see as a reminder of what war is like and how so many are affected by it.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Combat_Artists_Program

https://webot.org/info/en/?search=File:VietnamCombatArtCATJamesPollockWaitingInterrogation.jpg

https://wikimili.com/en/Vietnam_Combat_Artists_Program