Artists' Perspectives of the First World War

The perceived glories and triumphs of war were much in 18th and 19th Century, showing little of the harsher realities experienced by those actually involved. The First World War saw a marked change in the style of war painting - no longer were the heroic battle scenes and patriotic images of the Victorian era realistic or appropriate. The carnage and despair witnessed by those at the front was depicted by both professional and amateur artists alike, and changed the style of war art for ever.