WWI Nurse Paintings Analysis During the WWI time lapse (1914-1918) many artists illustrated arduous times lived. In 1915 Henri Gervex, a French painter depicted nurse’s melancholy in dealing with the gravely wounded soldiers. On the other hand, the 1918 Red Cross Poster by Robert Reid, demonstrates nurse's desperation in the attempt to rescue lives during those strenuous times. The analysis of subject matter, lights, and colors in the paintings facilitates the comprehension of Gervex and Reid’s thesis. Nursing schools should utilize these paintings to show students the main nurse's duties during WWI. In Gervex painting, the subject matter appears to be a nurse curing a wounded soldier.
She reflects tremendous anguish as she looks away…show more content… While at the same time, the nurse seems to contend against the ‘‘angel of death,’’ as it intends to impound the soldier´s life. The nurse is depicted with a desperate look on her face directed to a specific audience. Colette Scorzetti said: ''I think it's really interesting that both subject matter in the paintings seems to look right at the painter or the viewer. '' Back in 1918, Reid's purpose was to admonish nurses to join the Red Cross, considering that the background of the painting says: ''WON’T YOU HELP?'' Showing that a single person couldn't carry out all the work. As Henri Gervex, Reid utilizes obscure shadows to announce evil or danger. Thus like the angel of death, the black cross, segments of the wounded soldier's clothing, and his gun. Robert Reid uses the warmer shades of yellow for the entire background to indicate melancholy and hopelessness. According to the research about color's meaning, yellow is the only color that reacts badly to black. On the other hand, the nurse's in both pictures are dressed in white, representing innocence, purity, light, and
