The Winged Paintbrush: Aviation Genre Art

The author traces the development, current status and cultural significance of ‘aviation art’, a genre similar to maritime, equestrian and railroading art. Aviation art is representational art that records, celebrates and interprets aviation for an audience with occupational and hobby interests. The quality of aviation art has improved over the years as efforts have been made to popularize the art and to increase communication among practitioners. Aviation art testifies to a continuing public fascination with aviation and provides a visual documentation of one of the preeminent technologies of the twentieth century.