World War I

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, East Wind, 1916, Lithograph on paper. Acquired by the Clark, 1990. The Clark Art Institute, 1990.30.

World War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, with an estimated total of 40 million casualties. The war has a disproportionate representation in the Clark’s collection, perhaps stemming from museum founder Sterling Clark’s own experiences in the conflict. Having served a prior tour in Asia, as an army volunteer just out of college (1899–1905), Clark was living in Paris with his wife, Francine, when the United States entered World War I in 1917. He rejoined the military at the rank of major in the Inspector-General Corps, serving as a liaison officer between the American and French forces until 1919.