Artvee
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Still Life
    • Nature
    • Drawings
  • Books
  • Artists
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro
Login
Artvee
Menu
Eric Aldwinckle - A l’Oeuvre C’est Notre Guerre

A l’Oeuvre C’est Notre Guerre

Eric Aldwinckle (Canadian, 1909-1980)
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Favourite
Collect

Standard, 1214 x 1800px JPG, Size: 1.51 MB

Download

Max Size, 8350 x 12377px JPG, Size: 63.06 MB

Download
License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects.
Why is this image in the public domain?
Eric Aldwinckle

Eric Aldwinckle RCA was a Canadian Official war artist, designer and one of the most prominent illustrators of the 20th century. He was also a teacher at the Ontario College of Art, 1936–42; Principal of New School of Design and Vice-Principal of the Ontario College of Art, 1946.

Born in England in 1909 but sent to Canada in his teens, he apprenticed with printers in Toronto in the 1920s and learned the graphic design trade along the way. He struck out on his own in 1930, and built a successful design practice on corporate work and illustration, including several covers for Maclean's and illustrating for Mayfair magazine. During this period he was active in Toronto's Arts and Letters Club, where in 1938 Bertram Brooker asked him to design the cover of the new issue of its publication The Lamps, which he was editing. Aldwinckle was also a regular part-time instructor at the Ontario College of Art.

In World War II he registered as a conscientious objector, and created several well-known war posters, then became a camouflage designer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In late 1942 he heard that Ottawa was looking for volunteers for its new War Artist program. He applied and was accepted, receiving a commission in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant while covering RCAF operations in Coastal Command and the 2nd Tactical Air Force. During the years 1943-6 he produced over one hundred drawings and paintings in watercolours and oils that remain the property of The Crown and reside permanently with the Canadian War Museum.

He returned to his Toronto design practice in late 1945. When Frank Carmichael died suddenly he found himself in charge of the Ontario College of Art`s New School of Design. Educational administration was not for him and he resigned in 1946. In 1948, he created several covers and inside drawings for the Varsity Graduate magazine. He then worked as Graphic Arts Designer for the University of Toronto from 1948 to 1953. His celebrity as a returned war artist helped him land high-profile mural commissions with the Sunnybrook Hospital and Ontario Hydro. In 1961 he designed the coat of arms for the newly founded York University.

In 1954, along with Frederick Varley and others, he visited the Soviet Union on the first Canadian cultural exchange of the Cold War, and their travels were documented in a Maclean's article. Although he was never a communist and undertook this visit out of curiosity, it is likely that this visit made him ideologically 'suspect' and may have adversely affected his career from this point forward.

As a mature designer, he continued to work steadily during the 1950s, counting as his clients Imperial Oil, the University of Toronto, Ryerson, York University and the Stratford Festival. He was not a prolific fine artist, however, which guaranteed him a low profile in comparison to other war artists, such as Alex Colville, Lawren P. Harris or Jack Shadbolt.

Aldwinckle was an out-of-the-box thinker decades before the term became popular. He was a student of Theosophy (his book Two Fables was published by the Theosophical Press in 1950), an accomplished chef, raconteur, astrologer, composer of music, playwright, writer, and social critic. He enjoyed mentoring young artists, and influenced the careers of the late composer Harry Somers (his correspondence with Somers is in the McMaster University Archives, RC0385), Academy Award-winning filmmaker Christopher Chapman, muralist York Wilson and designer Theo Dimson.

While his work as a war artist and as a graphic art designer were his most visible contribution, perhaps his most enduring legacy will be his role in the establishment of Killarney Provincial Park, the area where members of the Group of Seven painted some of their works.

In Collection: World War II Posters (View all 879)

Buy Victory Bonds

Buy Victory Bonds

Anonymous
Sabotage in Norway plagues the Nazis

Sabotage in Norway plagues the Nazis

Anonymous
Save your strength for your job. It’s smart to stay-on-the-job

Save your strength for your job. It’s smart to stay-on-the-job (1944)

Chuck Thorndike
‘Every man woman and child is a partner.’ President Roosevelt

‘Every man woman and child is a partner.’ President Roosevelt (1942)

Anonymous
I’m Looking for You – Fever – Malaria

I’m Looking for You – Fever – Malaria

Abram Games (English, 1914-1996)
Give ’em both barrels

Give ’em both barrels

Jean Carlu (French, 1900-1997)
Wasted Clothing, Equipment is Another Ship Lost

Wasted Clothing, Equipment is Another Ship Lost

Abram Games (English, 1914-1996)
The Enemy Has Long Ears

The Enemy Has Long Ears

Anonymous
Above and beyond the call of duty–Dorie Miller received the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor, May 27, 1942

Above and beyond the call of duty–Dorie Miller received the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor, May 27, 1942 (1943)

David Stone Martin (American, 1913 – 1992)
Norwegian Sailors on the Seven Seas

Norwegian Sailors on the Seven Seas

Anonymous
Keep Your Feet Clean

Keep Your Feet Clean

Abram Games (English, 1914-1996)
Whatever Your Job May Be Fight

Whatever Your Job May Be Fight

Eric Aldwinckle (Canadian, 1909-1980)
This is What You are Making…A Mighty Machine of British Workmanship – The Handley Page Halifax II

This is What You are Making…A Mighty Machine of British Workmanship – The Handley Page Halifax II

J. H. Clark (English, 20th Century)
Scrap Metal Helps to Make Tanks

Scrap Metal Helps to Make Tanks

Anonymous
You Won’t Always be in Uniform…

You Won’t Always be in Uniform…

Ricky RCAF (Canadian, 20th Century)
View all 879 Artworks

0 Artworks
Follow
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Favourite
Collect

Standard, JPG, Size:

Download

Max Size, JPG, Size:

Download
License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects. .
Why is this image in the public domain?
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact us
Artvee.com 2024 All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
More info Accept
  • Sign in
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Still Life
    • Nature
    • Drawings
  • Artists
  • Books
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro