Models, maps and information graphics are powerful tools: They can reveal complexity which underlies the truth, and they can distort history to serve political needs.
NPR's Weekend Edition profiled Lt. William Sibourne who attempted to depict Napoleon's historic defeat by Duke Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. The English government pressured Sibourne to remove 40,000(!) French troops from his historically accurate creation. The act served the policy's of the government and crushed the spirit of the model maker. (LISTEN to full story.)
A modern-day group of historical model-makers have a selection of posters of interest.
These fine graphics are reminiscent of the model re-popularized by Tufte and originally created by Charles Joseph Minard that portrays the losses suffered by Napoleon's army in the Russian campaign of 1812.
Designed by Dan Greenwald and Kimberly Cloutier, HistoryShots publishes history-related prints that tell stories about subjects, time periods and events that inform and entertain. The prints that are content rich, highly illustrative and elegantly designed.
Posters include:
- History of the Political Parties (I&II)
- Race to the Moon
- Cycles of Greatness on the PGA Tour
- History of the Confederate Army
- Chronology Delineated
- Conquest of Everest
[ via William Drenttel, founding writer at DesignObserver ]
From HistoryShots:
There are countless books and maps about the American Civil War but there is nothing that provides a graphic overview of the history of the various Confederate armies throughout the war... until now. The History of the Confederate Army charts the size and battle history of the Army of Northern Virginia, Army of Tennessee, and 21 other armies. It provides understanding and context of why the Army of Northern Virginia was more successful than the Army of Tennessee. See the relationship between the various armies ... which army sent reinforcements to other theaters and which armies split their forces. See how the Army of Northern Virginia expanded and contracted during the war. See how the Army of Tennessee was formed from a number of smaller armies.
Comments