Pritzker Military Museum & Library launches virtual exhibit of legendary political cartoonist Bill Mauldin's work
On Monday, Dec. 13, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in downtown Chicago launched a virtual experience of its popular museum exhibit: "Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin and the Art of War."
The live exhibit, currently on display at the museum through April 2022, features nearly 150 of the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist's original drawings and published cartoons, as well as personal material from Bill Mauldin's exceptional career.
Narrated by television personality Geoffrey Baer, known for his work with Chicago's PBS station WTTW, the fascinating virtual tour offers highlights of several dozen works that cover Bill Mauldin's life and work, from World War II to his editorial cartoons for the Chicago Sun-Times. Maudlin, known for his notorious cartoons highlighting soldier's experiences during World War II, depicted and satirized prominent figures like Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and every U.S. president from Eisenhower to George H.W. Bush, in addition to creating his famous military characters, Willie and Joe.
This virtual exhibit can be experienced on all desktop, phone or tablet devices.
"The Pritzker Military Museum and Library is proud to share Bill Mauldin's life and art with the world online," said curator James Brundage. "With the ongoing pandemic and winter season approaching, we want guests to have options to experience what is one of our most successful exhibitions to date. We are delighted to showcase an American icon, Bill Mauldin, in this impressive virtual exhibit."
From World War II to the end of the Cold War, William "Bill" Mauldin, who would have turned 100 this year, used his artistry and wit to provide commentary on the world as he saw it, receiving two Pulitzer Prizes in the process. As a soldier and nationally syndicated political cartoonist, he used his voice and platform to critique the policies and actions of the nation's leaders, both military and civilian. Addressing segregation in the armed forces, the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the economic inequalities in America, Mauldin also used his artistry and voice to create images that communicated more to his audience than the written word often could.
Attendees can purchase the virtual tour, which is $5 for museum members and $7 for nonmembers on the website. Guests are still welcome to view the exhibit in person at the PMML and may reserve tickets. To learn more about Bill Mauldin, visit www.pritzkermilitary.org/billmauldinexhibit.
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library aims to increase the public's understanding of military history, military affairs, and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military - past, present, and future - with a specific focus on their stories, sacrifices, and values. With national and global reach, these spaces and events aim to share the stories of those who served and their contributions as citizen soldiers, helping citizens everywhere appreciate the relationship between the armed forces and the civilians whose freedoms they protect. A nongovernmental, nonpartisan organization, the Museum & Library features diverse collections, scholarly initiatives, and public programs from its flagship center in downtown Chicago to its world-class research center and park currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin.