Artists of the Ghost Army

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Briey 1945 from Ellsworth Kelly’s World War II Sketchbook

Artists became integral to the military effort of France during World War 1. In 1915, the French army established the world’s first military unit dedicated to disguise—the Section de Camouflage (from the French camoufleur - to veil or disguise). The artists who were assigned to the unit became knows as the Camoufleurs. They created over seven million square yards of painted camouflage fabrics and nets used for soldiers’ uniforms and weapon concealment.

American artists played a vital and dangerous role in World War II. The materials they used were far more advanced than those of World War I, but often required the artists to be in more dangerous positions than even the armed soldiers fighting at the fronts.

The Ghost Army consisted of 1,100 men. They were called upon to practice visual, sonic, radio and atmospheric deception for the purpose of confusing and thwarting the enemy.

In addition to creating camouf…