Colors of War

“The blue caps and red trousers stand out in bright colors; the camp dishes, mess kits, and mess tins shine despite the poor light.”

Maurice Genevoix, Sous Verdun, September 12, 1914

The Great War was captured in black and white in hundreds of thousands of photographs. At the time, this was the main way of recording scenes from the front or life behind the lines. But this was not the reality for the men and women of the time. Their reality was in color. In the summer of 1914, the fields were covered with golden wheat and the uniforms of French soldiers were brightly colored. In the trenches, the mud was brown and the soldiers wore uniforms in muted tones.

For people, the colors of their environment, their clothing, and their objects are meaningful. In societies, colors convey stories, symbolism, or taboos, hidden meanings that influence environments, behaviors, language, and the imagination. Whether in art, architecture, advertising, everyday objects, or civilian and military clothing, everything is governed by this unwritten code of color.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Opening on April 4, 2026, this new exhibition at the Great War Museum focuses on the role of colors in the material culture of this period of history. By covering scientific, technical, economic, and societal fields, the Great War Museum affirms its scientific ambition.

From April 4, 2026, to January 3, 2027