The Year of Peril: Thought Provoking Political Cartoons

When I was working on my orientation assignment I went to the State Historical Society of Missouri and they had an exhibit about Thomas Hart Benton. I talked to the security guard, Kevin Walsh, and he told me a lot of interesting information. He told me that his paintings were political cartoons in 1941-42 about if Nazi’s invaded the U.S. entitled “The Year of Peril.” He said they were ironic in a gruesome way. He said it was the largest propaganda campaign ever and the exhibit has the whole original set because he personally gave them to the museum because he was a native of Missouri. When I looked at the paintings I thought they were shocking but interesting. I, of course, thought they were well done but were thought provoking. I think that was their purpose and they serve it well. Walsh said that when kids come to the exhibit on field trips it is “nice for kids to have a real learning experience.” He said that they recognize war and appreciate the art. When I was that age I don’t think I would notice the violence but appreciate the paintings.