National Defense 1900 - 1943

"National Defense" is a black and white oil painting on canvas by William Tasker, created between 1900 and 1943 and currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The painting depicts a landscape dominated by an industrial complex, with smokestacks billowing smoke and intricate pipes snaking across the foreground. In the distance, a winding road cuts through fields, showcasing the stark contrast between industrialization and rural life. This depiction of a factory, a symbol of wartime production, reflects the artist's focus on the impact of industrialization on society during the early 20th century.