24 February 2007

World War I artists

The other day on The World there was a fascinating story on Anna Coleman Watts and Frances Derwent Wood and their studios in Paris. They made masks for soldiers injured in World War I -- those who had their noses, chins, ears blown off. Their amazing talents allowed soldiers to comfortably re-enter society. The quotes from grateful soldiers' letters break your heart: "The woman I love no longer finds me repulsive, as she had a right to do."

Listen to the story on The World (scroll down to "Masks report"). On the Smithsonian site you can see photos, a video of the artists at work (the link is at the top the page) and read "Faces of War".

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