American Artists' Record of War and Defense

February 7-March 8, 1942

Overview: 109 watercolors, drawings, and prints by 75 artists were on view, purchased for $30 each by the Office for Emergency Management. Entries had been submitted to the Section of Fine Arts in a competition for the purpose of informing the public about war and defense activities. In one month this open national competition, initiated 3 days after Pearl Harbor, drew 2,582 works submitted by 1,189 artists. Also exhibited were 13 works by 5 appointed artists who, through the courtesy of the War and Navy Departments, had been permitted to make drawings and paintings of "restricted material." This was the first of a series of exhibitions at the National Gallery illustrating various phases of national defense. The exhibition went on a United States tour, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Denver.

Location: Ground Floor, Central Gallery

Checklist: With note by Forbes Watson, Section of Fine Arts.

Other venues:

Chicago

Milwaukee

Denver and elsewhere

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