"Inferno" William F. Draper

Lieutenant Commander William Draper vigorously studied art in college both in the US and abroad. He was commissioned in 1942 to be a combat artist covering the south Pacific campaigns. His works were printed in National Geographic and after the war he continued art in portraits.

Draper's "Inferno" takes place in Charou Kanan, Saipan at a sugar factory on D-Day. The sugar mill as gone up in flames as the name implies after enemy shell and mortar fire. However, the marines push forward and continue their attack unaffected by the danger.

Draper uses colors not only to show mood but also to create a focus and emphasis in his work. The flames are the only color that is vibrant and bright as opposed to the dark and heavy colors in the rest of the painting. This automatically creates a focus and emphasis on the flame and destruction. The dark billows of black smoke contrast the bright flame and gives an overpowering and threatening mood.

In addition, everything is in ruins around the building. The ground is bear and covered in debris and sets a confused and chaotic situation. Soldiers are hiding behind piles of debris waiting to make their advance. D-Day and all of WWII was a dark time in our world's history. The darkness in Draper's art represents the corruption, evil and destruction caused by the war. However, the fire represents the change and revolution that was occurring all over the world as Hitler's empire fell.