Art and the Second World War

Art and the Second World War is the first book in English to provide a comprehensive and detailed international overview of the complex and often disturbing relationship between war and the fine arts during this crucial period of modern history. This generously illustrated volume starts by examining the art produced in reaction to the Spanish Civil War (often viewed as 'the first battle of World War II'), and then looks at painting, sculpture, prints, and drawing in each of the major combatant nations, including Japan and China. Breathtaking in scope, this scholarly yet accessible publication places wartime art within its broader cultural, political, and military contexts while never losing sight of the power and significance of the individual image and the individual artist. Monica Bohm-Duchen's thought-provoking analysis ranges from iconic paintings such as Picasso's Guernica to unfamiliar works by little-known artists. She reinstates war art by major artists as an integral part of their oeuvres and examines neglected topics such as the art produced in the Japanese-American and British internment camps, by victims of the Holocaust, and in response to the dropping of the atom bomb in 1945. In so doing, Bohm-Duchen addresses a host of fundamental issues, including the relationship between art and propaganda and between art and atrocity, and the role of gender, religion, and censorship, both external and internal. Art and the Second World War offers an unparalleled comparative perspective that will appeal to anyone interested in art history, military history, or political and cultural studies.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; Chapter 1: Civil War in Spain 1936-1939: 'The First Battle of World War II'; Chapter 2: Art in the Democracies: Great Britain; Chapter 3: Art in the Democracies: the Commonwealth; Chapter 4: Art in the Democracies: the USA; Chapter 5: 'France, Once the Haven of Exiles': Victim or Collaborator?; Chapter 6: Art under the Dictators: Russia's Great Patriotic War; Chapter 7: 'Imperfect Totalitarianism': Art and War in Fascist Italy; Chapter 8: Art under the Dictators: Nazi War Art Reassessed; Chapter 9: Art of the Holocaust: Creativity in Extremis; Chapter 10: Bitter Victory: China's War of Resistance against Japan 1937-1945; Chapter 11: Japan's Holy War 1931-1945; Chapter 12: Endgame: Hiroshima and Nagasaki; List of Illustrations; Timeline; Bibliography; Acknowledgements; Index.

About the Author :
Monica Bohm-Duchen is an independent writer, lecturer, and curator. Based in London, she has worked for such leading institutions as the Tate, the National Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Arts. Her many books include After Auschwitz: Responses to the Holocaust in Contemporary Art. She teaches a course on art and war at Birkbeck, University of London, and at New York University in London.

Review :
'There is virtually nothing out there that deals with Second World War art in a global context. That's the manuscript's big contribution to the field - and that constitutes a major contribution indeed. Although the arguments and interpretations include new material, it's the composite nature of the manuscript that constitutes its strong contribution to existing scholarship. In particular ... the manuscript introduces readers to a vast range of artists and artworks with whom and with which most people will be unfamiliar.' Princeton University Press's reader 'Monica Bohm-Duchen's wide-ranging study of art and the Second World War is a powerful account of the enduring power of artistic images to go beyond photography in making us think about war. Here is an indispensable global history of art and artists in the crucible of the 1939-45 war.' Jay Winter, Charles J. Stille Professor of History, Yale University '[a] well-researched, clear-eyed assessment of art's relationship to [the Second World War]. [...] Focused on painting, sculpture, drawings and prints, the book is particularly impressive for the obscure work it covers, such as that by German and Austrian refugees interned on the Isle of Man, sketches from Japanese-Americans interned in the U.S., and drawings by Italian Partisans in combat. [...] Brimming with chilling, full-color images, this handsome volume reaffirms the importance of WWII in relation to the fine arts.' Publishers Weekly '...a solid and highly readable guide.' The Telegraph 'It is no exaggeration to say that this book is a landmark. [...] The author must be both congratulated and thanked for giving us such a remarkable panorama. This magnum opus must be in all Art School, University and Public Libraries - and it would also make an excellent present for anyone interested in the Second World War in all its complex aspects.' Cercles Nominated for the William M. B. Berger Prize for British Art History 2013/14 A far-reaching overview of the artistic response to the conflict, from the preludial Spanish Civil War to the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan (Galleries Magazine) Well illustrated, extensively researched and highly approachable (Galleries Magazine)