Camouflaged Tanks, Berles-au-Bois

Camouflaged Tanks, Berles-au-Bois, a 1918 watercolor painting by John Everett, offers a glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers during World War I. Held in the Imperial War Museum in London, this artwork transports us to a battlefield scene where two soldiers find respite in the shade of a camouflaged tank. nn Notice how the artist skillfully uses a palette of greens, browns, and yellows to blend the tank into the surrounding trees. The large piece of canvas draped over the tank, painted with an abstract pattern, highlights the ingenuity employed to disguise military equipment. The soldiers, seated on the ground, seem to be taking a well-deserved break, with one of them sharpening a blade on a grinding wheel. nn The play of sunlight and shadow, created by the trees and the tank, adds depth and a sense of tranquility to the scene. Everett's loose and impressionistic brushstrokes further enhance the feeling of immediacy, making us feel as if we are present on that sunny afternoon in Berles-au-Bois.