Camouflage Cartoons Archive
There is no way to know when camouflage was first practiced, but it is known that the first official military camouflage unit was established in 1914 in France. It was the French who named it, but the term was soon after adopted into other languages by other nations as well. Almost immediately, it became a rich resource for humor, especially among those cartoonists who had earlier lampooned Modern Art, beginning with the Armory Show in 1913. As is evidenced by this collection of vintage camouflage-themed cartoons, the satirists saw the resemblance between Cubism, Futurism, and wartime camouflage (especially disruptively-patterned “dazzle” ship camouflage). Coincident with the women’ suffrage movement, they also claimed that women had long made use of camouflage, through cosmetics, dress, and behavior, as a reliable way to hoodwink men. With the arrival of Prohibition, rum runners adopted the devious ploys of military camouflage artists, for the purpose of hiding contraband.
These and other aspects of camouflage (especially during the era of World War I) are represented in this archive of published cartoons. This material was collected, restored and assembled by UNI Emeritus Professor Roy R. Behrens over several decades, in the course of his long-term research of art, design and modern camouflage.
Related collections by Roy Behrens located in UNI ScholarWorks:
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001. "I'm Doing the Camouflage Act." The Doings of the Duffs, by Walter Allman, 1918.
3-23-1918
Chattanooga News (Chattanooga, Tennessee) March 23, 1918. -
002. "I See You Fell for One of Those New Camouflage Bathing Suits, Eh?" The Doings of the Duffs, by Walter Allman, 1919.
8-20-1919
Palm Beach Post (Palm Beach, Florida) August 20, 1919. -
004. "Why this Dazzle Get-up?," by Anon, 1919.
1919
Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) June 3, 1919. -
014. Large Ladies Camouflage, by Anon, 1918.
4-4-1918
Life Magazine (New York, New York), April 4, 1918, page 559. -
016. Futurist Cubist Baseball, by John M. Baer, 1913.
1913
Washington Times (Washington, D.C.), March 28, 1913. -
017. Soldier Camouflaged, by Bruce Bairnsfather, 1916.
1916
Cover of Bystander's Fragments from France (London England), No 7, 1916. -
018. Military Mind, by H. M. Bateman, 1918.
2-27-1918
Punch (London, England), February 27, 1918, p.133. -
019. “Officer: Why Were You Not at Roll Call Last Evening?," by George Belcher, 1917.
11-29-1917
Punch (London, England), November 29, 1917, p. 365. -
020. “Camouflaged! How the Erstwhile Merchant Fleet Looks in War Paint,” by Louis Biedermann, 1918.
1918
Los Angeles Evening Express (Los Angeles, California), 1918. -
022. Cubism Crazy Quilt, by Clare Briggs, 1913.
4-1-1913
New York Evening Sun (New York, New York), April 1, 1913. -
023. “Camouflage, Casualties, Lies,” by J.H. Cassel, 1918.
1918
New York Evening World (New York, New York), April 30, 1918. -
024. “G.O.P., No Bosses, No Secrets, Open Door,” by J.H. Cassel, 1919.
1919
New York Evening World (New York, New York), 1919. -
025. “Brighter Cricket,” by Tom Cottrell, 1919.
1919
Punch (London, England), January 22, 1919, p.59. -
026. “The Little Big Family - Luke is Some Little Camouflage Artist Himself,” by Bud Counihan, 1918.
1918
Evening World Daily (New York, New York), February 23, 1918. -
027. “Camouflage! Oh, Where Have We Heard That Word Before,?” by Thelma Cudlipp, 1918.
1918
Vanity Fair (New York, New York), 1918. -
028. Cartoon of French Army Painters, by Raymond de la Neziere, 1917.
1917
La Baionnette (Paris, France), November 1917. -
030. “A Free Tip for the Army: Why not Try Women Camoufleurs?,” by E. R. H., 1917.
1917
Ogden Standard (Ogden, Utah), 1917. -
031. Woman’s Head on World Globe, Cover of Life Magazine, by James M. Flagg, 1905.
3-29-1905
Life (New York, New York), March 29, 1905. -
032. Camouflage: A Packer Adaptation, by Bart O. Foss, 1919.
2-24-1919
The Nonpartisan Leader (St. Paul, Minnesota), February 24, 1919 -
033. “Grandma the Demon Chaperone Is Certain That Clara’s New Striped Dress is Camouflage,” by F. Fox, !917.
8-21-1917
Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), August 21, 1917. -
034. “Notice Husbands - On Your Night Out. Paint One Side of Your Suit to Match the Wall Paper,” by Alfred Frueh, 1918.
1918
New York World (New York, New York), 1918. -
036. “Old ‘Tight’ Wad Is No Guy To Have Around Where There’s Camouflage,” by E. W. Gale, 1918.
1918
Republican Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), 1918. -
037. “Mr. Wad Uses a Little ‘Camouflage’ Paint Now and Then Himself!,” by E. W. Gale, 1917.
9-16-1917
Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), September 16, 1917. -
038. Baseball Camouflage, by Rube Goldberg, 1917.
10-15-1917
Los Angeles Evening Herald (Los Angeles, California),October 15, 1917. -
039. “The Cubist Silks and Satins May Lead to Worse Things,” by Rube Goldberg, 1913.
4-23-1913
Washington Times (Washington, D. C.), April 23, 1913. -
040. “Do You See what I See?,” by Wallace Goldsmith, 1918.
7-10-1918
Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), July 10, 1918, page 3. -
041. Camp Fire Girls In War and Peace, by John Goss, 1919.
1919
Illustration by John Goss for Isabel Hornibrook (Boston, Massachusetts) Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co. 1919. -
042. “What’s This? More of that Blinkin’ Cammy-Flage?,” by Charles Grave, 1918.
1918
Punch (London, England), 1918. -
043. "Padded Cell, Camouflage, Now Ladies and Gentlemen,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
10-20-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), October 20, 1917. -
044. "Padded Cell, ‘Camouflage’ Beautiful Sir! See? It Fits You Like a Glove,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
10-4-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), October 4, 1917. -
045. "Padded Cell, Camouflage, One, I’ am to Meet Mama Inside,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
10-5-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), October 5, 1917. -
046. "Padded Cell, Camouflaging, Henree ‘The Dressmaker is Here’,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
9-18-1917
Philadelphia Evening Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 18, 1917. -
047. “Padded Cell, Camouflaging, Rouge,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
9-19-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 19, 1917. -
048. “Padded Cell, Portrait Painter, Camouflaging”, by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
9-27-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 27, 1917. -
049. “Padded Cell, Camouflaged, Hats…,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
9-28-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 28, 1917. -
050. “Padded Cell, Camouflage, Stew,” by A. E. Hayward, 1917.
10-3-1917
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), October 3, 1917. -
052. “Jerry on the Job: This Camouflage Stuff May Be Overdone,” by Walter Hoban, 1917.
8-16-1917
Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), August 16, 1917. -
053. “Jerry on the Job: This ‘Camouflage’ Stuff Is the Real Stuff,” by Walter Hoban, 1917.
7-28-1917
South Bend News (South Bend, Indiana), July 28, 1917. -
055. “Clothes Camouflage,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
10-20-1917
Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts), October 20, 1917, page 14. -
056. “Antique Camouflage,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
11-30-1917
Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts), November 30, 1917. -
057. “Why Not?,” by Maurice Ketten, 1918.
6-19-1918
Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts), June 19, 1918. -
058. “Camouflage!,” by Maurice Ketten, 1918.
7-1-1918
Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts), July 1, 1918. -
059. “This is a Picture of a Soldier and His Dog,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
3-22-1917
Buffalo Times (Buffalo, New York), March 22, 1917. -
060. “Home Camouflage,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
10-3-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), October 3, 1917. -
061. “Camouflage,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
9-5-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), September 5, 1917. -
062. “Flat Camouflage,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
10-9-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), October 9, 1917. -
063. “Who Goes There?,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
9-18-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), September 18, 1917. -
064. “Camouflage Dressing,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
9-18-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), September 18, 1917. -
065. “Home Camouflage,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
11-20-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), November 20, 1917. -
066. “Camouflage, O, Mrs. John, Your Husband Is Flirting..,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
12-21-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), December 21, 1917. -
067. “Trench Camouflage, I am Tired Standing Up…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
9-21-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), September 21, 1917. -
068. “Love Camouflage, I love Your Gorgeous Hair…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
10-27-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), October 27, 1917. -
069. “Mr. John, Here After I Want to See You at Your Desk More…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
9-28-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), September 28, 1917. -
070. “The Latest in Art and Fashion, Coming - The Accordion Pleated Spring Coat…, by Maurice Ketten, 1913.
2-18-1913
Evening World (New York, New York) February 18, 1913. -
071. “See Those Two Strong Looking Men!...,” by Maurice Ketten, 1918.
7-23-1913
Evening World (New York, New York) July 23, 1913. -
072. “One Ragout of Lamb, Throw Me One Cat…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
9-29-1917
Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas), September 29, 1917. -
073. “Home Camouflage, This Wallpaper is Full of Holes…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
10-1-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), October 1, 1917. -
074. “O, Let Her Go to the Movies…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
12-22-1917
Buffalo Times (Buffalo, New York), December 22, 1917. -
075. “Always Keep the Tip of Your Rod Dry…, “ by Maurice Ketten, 1919.
6-14-1917
Evening World (New York, New York), June 14, 1919. -
076. “Can You Beat It?, The Doctor Told Me…,” by Maurice Ketten, 1917.
12-11-1917
Press Daily Magazine, December 11, 1917. -
077. “After the Cubist Food Exhibit,” by Frank King, 1913.
1913
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), 1913. -
078. “Freakish, But It Serves to Deceive the Sea Pirates…,” by H. A. MacGill, 1918.
8-26-1918
Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut), August 26, 1918. -
079. “An Efficiency Expert at Work,” by John T. McClutheon, 1918.
7-10-1918
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), July 10, 1918. -
080. “The Anti-Camouflage Specialists at Work,” by John T. McClutheon, 1919.
11-13-1919
Washington Times (Washington, D. C.), November 13, 1919. -
081. “Our Involuntary Disguises,” by Rawley Morgan, 1918.
3-20-1918
Bystander (London, England), March 20, 1918, page 613. -
082. “Remarkable Case of Protective Coloration…,” by George Morrow, 1915.
4-7-1915
Punch (London, England), April 7, 1915. -
083. “Camouflage, It Was Just Like This In the Olden Days…,” by Burt Shafer, Sheboygan Press, 1918.
1-7-1918
Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Michigan), January 7, 1918. -
085. Camouflage Socks, by Calvert Smith, 1919
9-1919
Harpers Magazine (New York, New York), September 1919. -
086. Camouflage Bathing Suit, by G. I. Stampa, 1919.
7-2-1919
Punch (London, England), July 2, 1919. -
087. “Speaking of Camouflage, Here Are Some Navy-Yard Varieties,” by R. Stephens, 1918.
2-12-1918
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), February 12, 1918. -
088. “Polly and Her Pals, She Couldn’t Camouflage a Cat…,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
9-26-1918
Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut), September 26, 1918. -
090. “Polly and Her Pals, There’s Perfect Safety in Camouflage,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
9-25-1918
Salt Lake Herald (Salt Lake City, Utah), September 25, 1918. -
091. “Polly and Her Pals, You’re Supposed to Be a Spy Catcher…,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
9-27-1918
Washington Times (Washington, District of Columbia), September 27, 1918. -
092. “Visitor: ‘Ah, You Belong to the Camouflage School of Painting!’.” by Dudley C. Tennant,
1917
Bystander (London, England), 1917. -
094. Hidden Figures, “More Camouflage,” by J. W. Vawter, 1918.
1918
Life (New York, New York), 1918. -
095. “Gink and Dink, What Do Men Know About Art?,” by C. A. Voight, 1913.
2-20-1913
Bisbee Daily Review (Bisbee, Arizona), February 20, 1913, page 7. -
097. “ The Struggle to Raise a Moustache since Camouflage was Invented,” by Harold Tucker Webster, 1917.
12-7-1917
Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), December 7, 1917. -
098. “That’s Alice Goofin, Johnny Daughter of the Hostess, Isn’t She a Hot Looking Sketch?!!,” by Weaton, 1917.
11-17-1917
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), November 17, 1917. -
099. “The Parrot. The Carrot,” by Robert Williams Woods, 1907.
1907
How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers, by Robert William Woods, 1907. -
100. Wears Chintz to the Party, by Starr Wood, 1921.
8-3-1921
Punch (London, England), August 3, 1921. -
107. “The Artist (to the chameleon),” by Charles Hughes, 1918.
1918
Life (New York, New York), 1918. -
108. “Polly and Her Pals, Wots This Gossip I hear,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
3-24-1918
Abilene Daily Reporter (Abilene, Texas), March 24, 1918. -
109. “Polly and Her Pals, It Was All Camouflage to Pa…,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
1918
Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania), September 27, 1918. -
110. “Polly and Her Pals, Pa’s an Expert at Coquetting with Camouflage,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
3-26-1918
Juneau Daily Empire (Juneau, Alaska), March 26, 1918, page 14. -
111. “Polly and Her Pals,There’s No Camouflage about Aunt Maggie,” by Cliff Sterrett, 1918.
3-23-1918
South Bend News Times (South Bend, Indiana), March 23, 1918, page 6. -
113. Camouflaged Spanking, “Willie, Who has been Reading…,” by G. B. Inwood, 1917.
1917
Life (New York, New York), 1917. -
114. Horse Camouflage, “Rookie: Camouflage is Certainly Wonderful!,” by G. B. Inwood, 1919.
1919
Life (New York, New York), 1919. -
115. Over Here, “Camouflage Is a New Word, but an Old Practice,” by Jack Callahan, 1918.
3-23-1918
Washington Times (Washington, District of Columbia), March 23, 1918.
![096. Ship Camouflage [Print], by Bernhardt Wall, 1918. by Bernhardt Wall](https://scholarworks.uni.edu/camouflage_cartoons/1095/thumbnail.jpg "096. Ship Camouflage [Print], by Bernhardt Wall, 1918. by Bernhardt Wall")
