War through a painter's eye: National Army Museum unveils forgotten voices of conflict
Briefly

The exhibition showcases art emerging from a century of conflict during Queen Victoria’s reign, featuring both official war artists and journalistic sketches. Women artists, often overlooked, played a crucial role despite societal challenges. Many military paintings served as pretexts for lucrative print sales, with changes in titles and portrayals reflecting public perception. As the exhibition evolves every six months, it provides informative captions that enhance the understanding of each artwork's context along with the artist's intent, illustrating the reality of wartime experiences through various artistic expressions.
The exhibition challenges the perception of historical war art by emphasizing the significant contributions of women artists who created military paintings despite social barriers.
Notably, the exhibition features journalist art created in lieu of photography, showcasing sketches sent back from war zones that blended word and image.
Overall, the exhibition reveals the changing public perceptions of war through art, including the transformation of titles for prints to promote sales and avoid negativity.
Through skilfully informative captions, the exhibition provides in-depth context regarding both the paintings and their creators, enriching the viewer's understanding of the historical narrative.
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