INFLUENCE OF ART ON THE CAMOUFLAGE DESIGN

Abstract

Research is focused on the impact of artistic styles and evolution of XX-th century art upon main formal characteristic of older and modern camouflage patterns. In the beginning of the period (1915- 1918), the main principles that have been used are those of boundery and simultaneous contrast, targeting at an effect of relief and non-homogeneity and decomposition. The first stage in camouflage evolution was the attempt to “dazzle” and confuse enemy by creating a false form characteristic. It was used for big military objects –ships, planes. Armies hired a lot of artists with the task to design camouflage schemes. Due to the trend for entrenchment in World War I the first approaches for camouflage most visual parts of the soldiers body are made. Logically, these efforts follow the same principles of visual illusion developed and modified in style, close to the one which was used for the larger objects. The German army prefers geometrical styles while Great Britain and French armed forces choose more expressionistic manner for their camouflage patterns. For the creation of the camouflage patterns, several optic principles and visual illusion are being used. The target is to create a visual illusion for complexity and shape sharpness by breaking down the silhouette unity until visual illusion of merge with the nature.