Clark Art Lecture 'As They Saw It'
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Saturday, March 5 at 2 pm, in conjunction with the opening of "As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War," the Clark Art Institute presents a lecture by Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Anne Leonard.
The lecture will be presented live in the Clark's auditorium and broadcast simultaneously via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Examining the role artists played in documenting the events and experiences of war, both before and after photography, "As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War" showcases a diverse selection from the Clark's holdings: both pro- and anti-Napoleonic imagery (including Francisco de Goya's The Disasters of War); Civil War photographs and wood engravings; and multiple perspectives on World War I. Also featured are images of Black Americans in military service, whose contributions have often been underrepresented.
According to a press release, visual media have long played a role in documenting military conflict. Especially for those far from the front, eyewitness imagery is crucial to understanding what may be happening on the battlefield. Yet artists' depictions of the wrenching conditions and consequences of war may even transcend their historical origins to become lasting monuments to suffering and sacrifice. Spanning four centuries of European and American art (1520–1920), this exhibition shows how prints, drawings, and photographs have put a human face on the sometimes abstract idea of conflict.
Advance registration for both the live talk and the Zoom transmission is required. For more information and to register, visit
clarkart.edu/events.
"As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War" is organized by the Clark Art Institute and curated by Anne Leonard, Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs; the exhibition will be on view March 5–May 30, 2022. Veterans, active duty service members, and their families receive free admission to the Clark through May 30.
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