Edmund Greacen and World War I

^{Edmund Greacen, Château Thierry, 1918, oil on beaver board, 10 5/8 x 8 ½ in., On loan from Jason Bane, Great Grandson of the Artist.}

World War I (1914-1919) is arguably the defining event of the 20^th century. For those who lived it, it was frightening, chaotic, and bizarre. It was traumatizing and transforming. However, 100 years later World War I is often lost in the collective consciousness. Edmund W. Greacen (1876 – 1949) does not blind us with graphic illustrations of violent action. Instead, he uses faceless depictions and soft, muted tones to make us aware of the devastation of the Great War.