I have an obsession with World War I. I think it's because for the first time it was the war that was globally felt and countries as faraway as French Indochine and French African nations Middle Eastern countries, etc. all involved as well as drafted to fight in Europe. As well as ALL of Europe pretty much and then the US getting involved near the end.
It was also the war that first used chemical weapons and machine style guns and tanks.
Also, the first war to draft non-professional millitary or career military. Such as young boys and men not that well trained. This was the end of chivalry and an all out brutal trench warfare. It was to be the war that ended all wars and cleansed the world to start a new again. Innocence was lost. You can see the changes in people in all art forms following the war. The effect on children and women especially and the poor young men who fought and came back with bad habits or trauma in any form.
The horrors are unimaginable and imagery so strong. To say it simple WAR scares the hell out of me. But, this war imparticular I have some sort of connection with, maybe I was in it?
Here are some drawings and sketches I did while researching books and images of the Great War. (I started a 10 page comic of my own, I'm sure you saw the first penciled page and colored page on here if you scroll down.) Children with gas masks, a police man with a sign that read WE ARE WATCHING YOU (which has nothing to do with the war but more to do with a big brother style painting I had in mind) and a man sculpting a artificial limb for an amputee.
I will have more sketches and images of this "obsession" soon.
"Every war carries within it the war which will answer it."_Kathe Kollwitz-artist
