Artistic Influence During "The Great Depression"

Thomas Hart Benton

(painter and muralist)

The Great Depression was a very large economic depression that occurred in the decade right before World War 2 and affected almost everyone around the globe. It generally started in about 1929 and lasted all the way throughout till the 1930’s or early 1940’s depending on location. This downfall changed many people’s life as it caused true emotion and passion to shine out in all who were affected. With the Great Depression, many artists emerged with new passionate inspiration with this dark influence. One American artist I’ve heard of named Thomas Hart Benton, was born 1898 and lived a very full life, experiencing the Great Depression. Thomas sought inspiration for his artwork by traveling throughout the country during the Great Depression. He visited coal mines, wheat fields, and even religious revival meetings, all of which made dramatic changes in his painting style and depth.

Painted around the late 1920's, Thomas's movement was focused on the simplicity of the non-city way of life. A simpler painting, his painting style consists of warm neutral colours, blended in short brush strokes complimented with very smooth consistent angles.

         

                    

In 1941, inspired by the attack of Pearl Harbor, Thomas created "The Year of Peril," a series of grim and powerful war paintings. This painting being called “Score Another for the Subs” was one of the many powerful paintings in the series. As you can see, not only the theme, but the general style of the painting had changed largely since the previous painting. The colours are much more dark and vivid portraying a more intense theme, the brush strokes and angular and sharp, and it is painted in a very skewed perspective. Thomas also used a very dramatic contrast between light and dark, which is very powerful in this painting.