By Sara Simon
November 11th, 1918, marks the end of the First World War, often called the Great War. Beginning as the celebration of Armistice Day in 1919 and evolving into Remembrance Day, this day is now acknowledged across Canada and other countries as a day to honour the sacrifices of those who have fought in war while celebrating peace between peoples and nations. Remembrance Day serves to remind citizens of the sacrifices of older generations while also stressing the importance of historical memory in the public sphere, emphasised by yearly ceremonies and parades of remembrance occurring across the globe.
Throughout history, and the wars fought by Canadian soldiers, visual art has served as an important way of conveying information, as well as functioning as an expression of emotions. Founded in the direct aftermath of WW1, the First World War Canadian War Memorials Fund, or CWMP, aimed to preserve the shared experiences of the war, while conveying information to the public. Replicated again during the Second World War, and later in the Cold War, these funds aim to compile memorial art to create a collection of visual art memorialising the actions of Canadian soldiers. Similarly, the Canadian War Museum hosts an online collection of visual art created both during and to remember the First World War. This online collection can be accessed by visiting the Art and Culture Section of the Canadian War Museum Website.
Written media has also served as an important way to recall past conflicts while remembering the sacrifices of those involved. In Canada, the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae is commonly referenced at Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country as a way to understand the losses of WW1. Flanders Fields exemplifies the way that art can come to symbolise remembrance. Similarly, it serves to illuminate how art can help to humanise conflicts by addressing the experiences of those involved. Poetry, and war memorials, have served as an accessible way for the public to connect with history. Written work allows for the public to easily understand the horrors of war, as well as serving to celebrate the triumphs of the human spirit while remembering those lost. Available online and linked below, the “War Poetry Website” includes written works remembering conflicts starting in the early 1900s up until the modern era. Similarly, throughout wartimes, written music has also served to unite populations. During the Second World War, British musician Vera Lynn travelled and performed songs to soldiers to raise spirits. These songs were often translated into multiple languages and have become associated with remembering the losses of the Second World War, especially in British ceremonies. In addition to being very musically well-written, these songs have preserved war memory in the United Kingdom, while providing a glance into history itself. Linked below is a collection of Vera Lynn war songs in the original English.
While it is nearly impossible for those who have lived during peaceful times to comprehend the tragedy of past wars, it remains of utmost importance that society continues to remember history and those that fought so modern generations did not have to. Art serves as an important tool to connect generators, inspire peace, and inform about Canadian history.
References and Resources Mentioned
Art Canada Institute - Institut de l’art canadien. “War Art in Canada: Critical Issues.” Art Canada Institute - Institut de l’art canadien. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/war-art-in-canada/critical-issues/.
“Art and Culture - Official Art.” Canada and the First World War. https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/objects-and-photos/art-and-culture/official-art/
“Remembrance - Remembrance Day.” Canada and the First World War. https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/after-the-war/remembrance/remembrance-day.
“The War Poetry Website, First World War, Remembrance Poems, Modern.” War Poetry. UK. https://www.warpoetry.uk/.
“Vera Lynn Songs.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8463032239477765.
Image Taken From:
“Art and Culture - Official Art.”- “The Cloth Hall, Ypres”. Canada and the First World War. https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/objects-and-photos/art-and-culture/official-art/