Although the assignment of the eight AEF artists to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was purely a formality, they found the many and varied activities of this branch of the AEF interesting subject matter. The industrial scale of the military effort demanded an enormous technical and logistical presence. Tens of thousands of men served loading, unloading, stockpiling, moving, and maintaining the tons of war materiel sent to France in support of the combat troops.
The Engineer by Harvey Thomas Dunn, Watercolor and charcoal on paper, 1918
The Engineer
Harvey Thomas Dunn
Watercolor and charcoal on paper, 1918
Unloading Ship at Bassen Docks by William James Aylward, Charcoal and gouache on paper, 1919
Unloading Ship at Bassen Docks
William James Aylward
Charcoal and gouache on paper, 1919
The Docks at Brest by Walter Jack Duncan, Pen and ink wash on paper, July 21, 1918
The Docks at Brest
Walter Jack Duncan
Pen and ink wash on paper, July 21, 1918
American Troops Supply Train by William James Aylward, Oil and gouache on paper, 1918
American Troops Supply Train
William James Aylward
Oil and gouache on paper, 1918
Tressing Nets for Artillery Emplacements by Ernest Clifford Peixotto | Pen and ink wash, and charcoal on paper, 1918
Tressing Nets for Artillery Emplacements
Ernest Clifford Peixotto
Pen and ink wash, and charcoal on paper, 1918
At the Camouflage Factory in Dijon by J. André Smith, Watercolor, charcoal, and pastel on paper, June 1918
At the Camouflage Factory in Dijon
J. André Smith
Watercolor, charcoal, and pastel on paper, June 1918
Roadside Repair Station, Chateau Thierry by Harry Everett Townsend, Charcoal on paper, 1918
Roadside Repair Station, Chateau Thierry
Harry Everett Townsend
Charcoal on paper, 1918
The AEF WWI war art collection currently is held by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Division of Armed Forces History, from which the artworks in this exhibition are on loan.