Walter Jack Duncan (1881–1941) was a war artist for the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Background

He was born in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

, Indiana. His family included a number of prominent actors, and upon graduation from high school, he -- along with a writer-artist friend,

Robert Cortes Holliday Robert Cortes Holliday (July 18, 1880 – January 1, 1947) was an American writer and literary editor. Biography He was born on July 18, 1880, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and moved to New York to study at the Art Students' League and worked b ...

-- moved to New York city to study at the

Art Students' League The Art Students League of New York is an art school at 215 West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may stud ...

under the prominent landscape artist John H. Twachtman. After three years at the League, Duncan began his long career of magazine illustration with ''

Century Magazine ''The Century Magazine'' was an illustrated monthly magazine first published in the United States in 1881 by The Century Company of New York City, which had been bought in that year by Roswell Smith and renamed by him after the Century Associati ...

''. Some of his other magazine credits include ''

Scribner's Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner's or Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing American authors including Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Marjorie Kinnan Rawli ...

McClure's Magazine ''McClure's'' or ''McClure's Magazine'' (1893–1929) was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism ( investigative, wat ...

,'' and '' Harper's''. His varied illustration assignments before the war had given him the opportunity to travel abroad to Canada and England. He also spent time in the backwoods of Kentucky drawing the descendants of

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

in their natural habitat. Like

William James Aylward William James Aylward (September 5, 1875 – February 26, 1956) was a war artist for the United States Army during World War I. Biography Aylward was born September 5, 1875 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and developed an early interest in things naut ...

's, much of Duncan's wartime effort focused on the support activities of the AEF.World War I Combat Artists – Walter Duncan
''NARA'' He traveled from the ports to the battlefield producing detailed works that recorded some of the less glamorous but essential aspects of modern warfare. Much of his work reflects the influence of his studying under a landscape artist. Duncan's favorite medium was pen and ink, and he especially liked producing illustrations for books. His work in that medium earned him the accolade of "wizard of pen and ink" from contemporary artists. During his career he became associated with a number of writers, working closely with them to illustrate their books. After the war he illustrated a number of

Christopher Morley Christopher Darlington Morley (May 5, 1890 – March 28, 1957) was an American journalist, novelist, essayist and poet. He also produced stage productions for a few years and gave college lectures.''Online Literature'' Biography Morley was bo ...

's books, including ''

Plum Pudding Christmas pudding is sweet dried-fruit pudding traditionally served as part of Christmas dinner in Britain and other countries to which the tradition has been exported. It has its origins in medieval England, with early recipes making use of d ...

'' and '' Pipefuls''. File:Newly Arrived Soldiers Debarking at Brest by Walter J. Duncan.jpg, Newly arrived soldiers debarking at Brest File:Cold Nights Coming On by Walter J. Duncan.jpg, Cold nights coming on File:A Quiet Game in Essey by Walter J. Duncan.jpg, A quiet game in Essey File:Barber Shop and First Aid Station of the Red Cross at Essey by Walter J. Duncan.jpg, Barber shop and first aid station of the Red Cross at Essey File:Blacksmith and Wagon Repair Shop on the road to Boucq, Meurthe et Moselle.jpg, Blacksmith and wagon repair shop on the road to Boucq File:French Auto Trucks and Ambulances Parked in the Place Garriere, Neufcahteau, Awaiting a Call from the Front by Walter J. Duncan.jpg, French auto trucks and ambulances parked in the Place Garriere File:German Prisoners Under Guard on their Way to Work by Walter J. Duncan.jpg, German prisoners under guard on their way to work

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Walter Jack United States Army artists Artists from Indianapolis 1881 births 1941 deaths Art Students League of New York alumni American illustrators World War I artists