Dazzle: Disguise & Disruption in War & Art

Whilst it is a constant throughout history that conflict has inspired and engendered great art, it is much rarer event for art to impact directly upon the vicissitudes of war. Yet, in the course of the First World War, a collision of naval strategy and the nascent modern art movement, led to some 2000 British ships going to sea as the largest painted modernist canvases in the world covered in abstract, clashing, decorative and geometric designs in a myriad of colours. Dazzle had arrived. Heavily inspired by the Cubism and British Vorticism art movements, dazzle was conceived and developed by celebrated artist and then naval commander Norman Wilkinson. Dazzle camouflage rejects concealment in favor of disruption. It seeks to break up a ship s silhouette with brightly contrasting geometric designs to make a vessel s speed and direction incredible difficult to discern both critical factors in the early years of the torpedo. False painted bow-waves and sterns were used to confuse and throw off the deadly U-boat captains by up to 55%. The high contrast shapes and colours further made it very difficult to match up a ship in the two halves of an optical naval rangefinder. Some questioned dazzle's effectiveness but, combined with the adoption of the convoy system led to a considerable reduction in the number of merchant ships losses. Dazzle camouflage was adopted internationally first by the US Navy and its use was continued by the major navies right through to the Second World War and beyond, although the development of radar and aircraft range lessened its effectiveness. This new book traces the development of the Dazzle aesthetic from theory into practice and beyond. It looks at the impact that dazzle was to have on art, especially in the work of Edward Wadsworth, Charles Pears and Wilkinson himself. It takes the story further and looks at how dazzle impacted upon many aspects of art and design from record covers to fashion and also showcases the wonderful tributes that contemporary artists, such as Peter Blake and Tobias Rehberger, have made by painting ships and ferries as a timely means to mark the ongoing centenary of the First World War.

About the Author :
James Taylor is a former curator of paintings at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Since leaving the museum he has established himself as a maritime art dealer and lecturer on a range of maritime subjects. He is the author of Marine Painting (1995) and Yachts on Canvas (1998), The Voyage of the Beagle (2009), Careless Talk Costs Lives (2010) and Your Country Needs You: The Secret History of the Propaganda Poster (2013). Taylor is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Sussex on the artists who sailed with Matthew Flinders on the voyage of HMS Investigator (1801-3) - the first recorded circumnavigation of Australia.

Review :
A book for historians, artists and fashion designers all alike, this is a really interesting look at this seemingly strange way of trying to hide something as large as a ship at sea. -- Robin Buckland Military Model Scene Naval modellers will find the many diagrams and period photographs invaluable when replicating these complex schemes. -- Chris Clifford Airfix Model World Mr Taylor has produced a really fine history...Highly recommended. -- Mark Barnes War History Online One can only really be guided by the statistics, which speak for themselves. The whole concept of Dazzle is examined in minute detail in this amazing book by James Taylor. -- Paul Norman Books Monthly This is a brilliant and visually very alluring volume, thoroughly recommended for its visual enjoyment as well as for its intrinsic historical interest. -- Roger Marsh Ships in Scale This book is a significant, well-researched contribution to the history of Dazzle and an essential reference on the art form. -- Douglas Ford The Mariner's Mirror This book covers an interesting subject, and one which I haven't seen fully told before. The text is well written, keeping the subject interesting for the reader, and the paintings, artwork and sketches are superb and a great resource to the imaginative modeller who feels they would like to attempt some of the wilder schemes. -- Mike Williams Britmodeller.com Was listed in Military History Monthly's round-up of the best military history titles of the month. -- Hazel Blair Military History Monthly