Main Menu

Murray Dessner, Viet Nam

Murray Dessner: Viet Nam (1992) Acrylic on canvas
Artist
Murray Dessner
Title
Viet Nam
Date
1992
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Credit Line
Gift of the artist, 2011

This haunting painting from 1992 is a personal expression of sorrow and horror at the events of the Vietnam War. In grim, uncompromising tones of gray, Dessner depicts characters from well-known media photographs of the My Lai Massacre and the shootings of Kent State University students. Color enters the painting with the American flag and scenes of war.

Stories Trigger
Blank field used to trigger form on artwork and artist pages. DO NOT EDIT

Share:

Stories

We invite you to share your ideas, knowledge, and stories as they relate to the art in our collection. Read what people had to say about this art or use the form below and write to us yourself.

Name:
Invalid Input
Email:
Invalid Input on Email
Phone:
Invalid Input on Phone
Message:
Invalid Input
Invalid Input

  • Murray was very much against our government's involvement in Viet Nam, but he always felt great sympathy for the soldiers. The angel in the upper section of the painting is from Titian's painting of his own entombment, which had always impressed Murry in Venice. The border depicts fields of poppies with its several interpretations.

    Linda Dessner

View more from:

Murray Dessner1950-PresentAcrylic paintCanvas