The Art of World War II: A Culture Show Special

Original version

BBC Two England

BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

BBC Two

BBC 2

BBC2

BBC Two (England)

England

The Culture Show

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Best of the week's arts and culture news, covering books, art, film, architecture and more

The best of the week's arts and culture news, covering books, art, film, architecture and more

BBC HD

BBC Four

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Four HD

The Art of WWII: A Culture Show Special

Alastair Sooke

Bill MacLeod

Emily Kennedy

Janet Lee

The Culture Show: The Art of World War II: A Culture Show Special

The Art of World War Two: A Culture Show Special

13/09/2010

BBC Two - The Culture Show, The Art of World War II: A Culture Show Special

Alastair Sooke explores the often overlooked history of Britain's wartime renaissance.

Alastair Sooke explores the often overlooked history of Britain's wartime renaissance. He meets the Blitz survivors and factory workers who became the subject of iconic paintings.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the Culture Show presents a special on the art of World War II. Despite being locked into a life-or-death struggle, wartime Britain saw an extraordinary explosion of art. From portraits to posters, cartoons to huge canvases, art was suddenly everywhere. Among the works were some of the most intense and immediate creations of the 20th century.

Presenter Alastair Sooke explores the often overlooked history of Britain's wartime renaissance. He meets the Blitz survivors, factory workers and Land Girls who became the subject of iconic paintings and talks to contemporary war artists about the challenges of creating art in conflict zones. Travelling from the shipyards of the Clyde to the concentration camps of northern Germany Alastair discovers how art bore witness, rising above propaganda to create an enduring, deeply humane record of the 'People's War' and laying the groundwork for our own understanding of what art should be and do.

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Culture Show

The Art of World War II: A Culture Show Special

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Two England

About BBC Two