Drawing

Title:

You can't hurt it - it's indestructible

Object Name:

Drawing

Object ID:

2002.008.03.36

Creator:

Jordan, Robert (1925-1993)

Place of Origin:

England

Date:

1945

Description:

Drawings of prisoners trying to cut German bread. Page 36 in sketchbook of Robert Jordan (1925-1993), U.S. Army Air Force, World War II. Pencil on paper. Horizontal rectangle. Titled in pencil, "YOU CAN'T HURT IT - IT'S INDESTRUCTIBLE / IT'S GERMAN G.I. BREAD (BROT)". Five drawings:
1. Man sitting on loaf of brad, captioned "SIT ON IT!"
2. Man throwing loaf of bread, captioned "HEAVE IT AGAINST / A WALL!"
3. Man jumping on loaf of bread, captioned "STOMP ON IT!"
4. Broken knife in front of loaf of bread. Bread marked "22".
5. Two men trying to cut loaf of bread with crosscut saw.
The sketchbook documents Sergeant Jordan's experience as a prisoner of war in Germany, including his capture, forced march, and recovery in England.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-10 W-14.5 inches

Provenance:

Robert Jordan (1925-1993) was a tail gunner when his plane was shot down over Hanover, Germany, on Nov. 26, 1944. He was captured and marched to a prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft 4. After liberation, he recovered in a hospital in England, where a Red Cross nurse ("Mom") bought him this sketchbook. After the war, he earned degrees from Dartmouth and Columbia, and became a talented landscape painter. In 1952, he bought a farm as a summer home in Eaton, NH, and returned every summer. In 1943, he worked as a cowboy in the Southwest at age 16.

Credit Line:

Gift of the Estate of Robert Jordan

People:

Jordan, Robert (1925-1993)

Subjects:

World War II, Prisoners of war, POW's, Prisoners, Prisons, Air forces, Bread, Crosscut saws