Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas

Video: Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas

Video: Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
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Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas

Almost a century ago, without the use of pixel graphics or other computer software, photographers Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas staged a series of incredible mass photographic performances, directing their living bodies like conductors. models from which the religious and national symbols of the American nation were built. Thousands of military personnel took part in the photography, which served to support American participation in the war.

During World War I, Englishman Arthur S. Mole and his American counterpart John D. Thomas traveled around the United States, visiting military camps and taking massive photographs of soldiers. The military involved in the project formed giant patriotic symbols with their bodies - the Statue of Liberty, the portrait of President Woodrow Wilson, the Liberty Bell, the American eagle - which were then photographed from above. It was simply incredible for the soldiers to take part in such a grandiose project, becoming a part of a great story.

Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas

The painting process began with the photographer Arthur S. Mole drawing lines and marking the boundaries of the future image with flags. All this could take a week, but it took only 30 minutes to place all the participants in the shooting in the desired positions. In the painting of the Statue of Liberty, there are 18,000 people: 12,000 of them form one torch, but only 17 people are standing at the base.

Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas

Carl Hammer of the Chicago Gallery says that Mole and Thomas were on a mission from the US government to create massive photographs of the military and helped raise money by selling photographs to the public.

Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas
Living national symbols of America. Photo series by Arthur S Mole and John D Thomas

Photos by Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas are currently part of the Chicago Historical Society, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Library of Congress.

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