Olin Dows
Encyclopedia
Olin Dows was an United States Army artist who served in the European Theater of Operations
during World War II.
, and C.K. Chatterton.
In the course of his career Dows assisted in establishing the Treasury Department's Art Program in 1933. He was commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts of the Treasury Department to write a book on "Mural Designs". He also worked for the Office of Civilian Defense
in Washington DC in charge of a project to have artist depict the various phases of work in defense plants. His eight selectees turned in 73 pictures which were shown in a "Soldiers of Production" exhibition at the National Gallery
, Washington DC.
Olin Dows enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1942. Stationed at Fort Meade, MD, waiting to be sent to Officers training school, Dows gave up this opportunity to go instead to the European Theater of Operations
as a war artist
. He was appointed head of a group of three artists to cover the ETO. He remained in England for a year, attached to the Historical Section of the ETO. A month after his arrival in England, Congress denied the necessary appropriations and the art program was officially canceled. He was instead given photography missions, but nevertheless kept up with his painting. In England he was attached to the 166th Signal Photo Unit and went with them to Normandy
late in June 1944. He covered the 35th Division after D-Day
and was with them from June to September 1944. Dows saw action at Bastogne, Metz, and was with the Third Army
in the final drive across Germany. He was present at the junction of American and Soviet Forces and depicted this meeting in several of his paintings.
The collection of his works includes sketches of his fellow soldiers from basic training at Fort Belvoir
, VA; from his trip to Great Britain, many drawings, mainly in color, of scenes of debarkation and of the life of the soldiers on the transport. These were followed by a third series of "on the spot" as well as more fully developed drawings of American soldiers training in Great Britain. He helped to organize exhibitions of the work of American artists in England. He was discharged from the Army in August 1945.
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
during World War II.
Biography
Dows was born in 1904, at Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. He was educated and trained at Harvard's Department of Fine Arts, and Yale's Student's League (New York). He studied under Eugene F. Savage, Edward C. TaylorEdward C. Taylor
Edward C. Taylor is an American chemist who developed the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed . As of 2009, royalties for this drug paid to Princeton University were sufficient to completely finance a state-of-the-art chemistry laboratory building.In 2006 Taylor was named a Hero of Chemistry by the...
, and C.K. Chatterton.
In the course of his career Dows assisted in establishing the Treasury Department's Art Program in 1933. He was commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts of the Treasury Department to write a book on "Mural Designs". He also worked for the Office of Civilian Defense
Office of Civilian Defense
Office of Civilian Defense was a United States federal emergency war agency set up May 20, 1941 by Executive Order 8757 to co-ordinate state and federal measures for protection of civilians in case of war emergency...
in Washington DC in charge of a project to have artist depict the various phases of work in defense plants. His eight selectees turned in 73 pictures which were shown in a "Soldiers of Production" exhibition at the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
, Washington DC.
Olin Dows enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1942. Stationed at Fort Meade, MD, waiting to be sent to Officers training school, Dows gave up this opportunity to go instead to the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
as a war artist
United States Army Art Program
The U.S. Army Art Program or United States Army Combat Art Program is a program created by the United States Army to create artwork for museums and other programs sponsored by the US Army...
. He was appointed head of a group of three artists to cover the ETO. He remained in England for a year, attached to the Historical Section of the ETO. A month after his arrival in England, Congress denied the necessary appropriations and the art program was officially canceled. He was instead given photography missions, but nevertheless kept up with his painting. In England he was attached to the 166th Signal Photo Unit and went with them to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
late in June 1944. He covered the 35th Division after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
and was with them from June to September 1944. Dows saw action at Bastogne, Metz, and was with the Third Army
United States Army Central
United States Army Central is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is also dual-hatted as the "United States Third Army". It is the Army Component of U.S...
in the final drive across Germany. He was present at the junction of American and Soviet Forces and depicted this meeting in several of his paintings.
The collection of his works includes sketches of his fellow soldiers from basic training at Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir is a United States Army installation and a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Originally, it was the site of the Belvoir plantation. Today, Fort Belvoir is home to a number of important United States military organizations...
, VA; from his trip to Great Britain, many drawings, mainly in color, of scenes of debarkation and of the life of the soldiers on the transport. These were followed by a third series of "on the spot" as well as more fully developed drawings of American soldiers training in Great Britain. He helped to organize exhibitions of the work of American artists in England. He was discharged from the Army in August 1945.