Comparisons of the Past and Present Artistic Representations of Warfare: Reflections on Illusions (2009)

Undergraduate: Anh Duong

Faculty Advisor: Mary Pardo
Department: Art

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The culture of war has been a deep root among many societies, and the European medieval society was no exception. Numerous visual records of history reflect this long time fascination of warfare culture. An abundance of visual documentation is seen particularly during the Middle Age Europe, as manuscript illustrations of military achievements and documentation were especially prevalent during this period, when the Crusades were a focal point in European society. During this era, when most battles were in the open field, common motifs in illustrated images of military activity included a face-off between two opposing soldiers, a cavalry unit, and other themes that were extensive of Christianity, such as sacrifice and an eternal struggle against good and bad. Throughout the era, these patterns changed as military culture developed; theless, the focus on details and the persistence of these artistic depictions over the decades of the medieval Europe reflected the influential power, beliefs, and values held within by the military power. A comparison of formatting, visual motifs, and subject matter in the visual representation of warfare and military culture that occurred during the Middle Ages reveals the parallels of both military culture and art of warfare development.