John Walsh Blog Post 2

John Walsh
City of Mud and Gold
 Blog Post #2: Imperial War Museum





            Following my presentation, it was a very educational and applicable experience to visit the Imperial War Museum.  I found that the museum was much larger than I expected and was crammed with information.  I enjoyed the layout and how each of the sections contained a single time period, for example, WWI, WWII, and the Holocaust.  After reading and discussing the violent period of the Blitz, it was very intriguing to view the history, art, and actual equipment used during this time.
            An image from class that relates to the museum is Aftermath, by Louis Duffy, from the year 1940 (see image above).  This artwork is significant because it shows the magnitude and destruction of the Blitz.  The image details the aftermath of the bombings, showing the rubble of buildings and streets, as well as the unfortunate deaths of many.  The dead men in suits represent that no matter the amount of power or wealth that you had at the time, all of London was under attack and nobody was safe.  Both the rich and the poor were subject to the impact of the Blitz and even nobility was at risk. This art is also juxtaposed by the poster which is untouched on a wall around the rubble.  It says, “Volunteers Wanted”, showing the persistence and extreme need for help in the war effort.  Spreading the word and getting as many soldiers as possible was essential in order to end the bombings in London, but also to end the entire war.  This art shows the annihilation of the city, the death of many, and the need for support to confront an impending doom.
            This art was illuminated by our trip to the museum and connected to several themes discussed in class.  The museum provided a wide array of information from different time periods, but the WWII exhibit, in addition to some other main attractions allowed for an understanding of the immense destruction of the Blitz.  The images above, one that I took, and one from online, is of a German V2 rocket.  These rockets were used during the Blitz and seeing one in person showed the massive size and impact that these bombs can create, especially in a city like London.  In addition, it also impacted the way I thought about Duffy’s artwork.  The size and strength of the rocket helped me understand Duffy’s extreme call for action and the utter destruction that he portrays in the painting.  When preparing for my presentation, I researched many things such as the damage to buildings, the extent of the deaths, and radius of impact; viewing an actual rocket in person made me appreciate these facts, the extreme terror, and the carnage that occurred in London and Duffy’s art.
            Viewing the rocket and many of the other weapons like tanks and submarines gave a visual and physical experience that allowed me to understand the full gravity and context of the war.  The art by Louis Duffy complemented the exhibits and allowed me to see the meaning of the museum and the painting.



  

Works Cited:


Ermengem, Kristiaan Van. “V2 Rocket, Imperial War Museum.” A View On Cities, www.aviewoncities.com/gallery/showpicture.htm?key=kveen0884.\

“Military Objectives: Some Reflections on the Forgotten Second World War Artist Louis Duffy.” NGV, www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/military-objectives-some-reflections-on-the-forgotten-second-world-war-artist-louis-duffy/.



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