Artwork Page for War Fatigue

Details / Information for War Fatigue

War Fatigue

1946

William E. Smith

(American, 1913–1997)
Culture
America
Medium
linocut
Measurements
Image: 30.5 x 25.4 cm (12 x 10 in.); Sheet: 34.6 x 32.1 cm (13 5/8 x 12 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Severance and Greta Millikin Trust 2024.33
Catalogue raisonné
Teller 19
Edition
10 or 11
Copyright
© William E. Smith
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

In William E. Smith’s words, this print depicted “how it feels when you can march no longer and drop to rest by the wayside.”

Description

William E. Smith relocated to Cleveland from Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the Great Migration and soon became closely associated with Karamu House, a cultural center established in 1915 and still active today. There, Smith joined a group of artists who experimented with linocut, the technique used to make this print. It was created shortly after the artist returned from service in World War II and was meant to serve as a meditation on his experiences in combat.
A vertically oriented black-and-white print depicts a seated person, bent over their knees, head in their hands. Only the top of their head, hair cut short, is visible. They wear loose clothing and boots, their body appearing long and disproportionately large, especially their right hand, compared to their head. Fine lines shade in details, including what appears to be wood plank flooring. Light shines in, illuminating the person, from our right.

War Fatigue

1946

William E. Smith

(American, 1913–1997)
America

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