Iowa’s Camouflage Experts

by Roy R. Behrens

Camouflage in nature predates human history in the sense that it can be easily found in animals and plants. From the beginning of human life, it has also been used in hunting, as well as in wartime. But the first formal adoption of military camouflage is said to have started in World War I, when the French Army set up the first designated camouflage section. When the US entered that war, American camouflage units were formed for the protection of personnel, artillery, infantry positions, and supply and troop ships.

This richly illustrated slide talk documents the little known contribution to modern camouflage by artists, architects, stage designers, and scientists – a surprising number of whom were originally from Iowa.

For example, the co-founder of the US Army’s Camouflage Corps was from Creston, Iowa, while the artist who supervised ship camouflage during both world wars was from Vinton. Another ship camouflage artist was from Ottumwa, and two of the top scientists who advised the government on WWI camouflage had been high school classmates in Maquoketa. As is often noted, Grant Wood served briefly as an army camoufleur during WWI, as did other Iowans.

Roy R. Behrens, an emeritus professor of art and distinguished scholar at the University of Northern Iowa will be discussing Iowa’s camouflage experts at the English Valleys History Center on Sunday, April 26, at 2:00.

This talk makes use of rare photographs and other research materials that the speaker has collected over fifty years. As the author of four books on art and camouflage, he has spoken on the topic in the UK, Australia, Canada, and throughout the US, and has contributed scores of essays to other books, magazines, encyclopedias, as well as to documentary films (including NOVA) and exhibitions. Most recently, he was asked to

write the catalog introduction for a new major camouflage exhibition in Washington, DC.

Before his retirement in 2018, Roy R. Behrens taught graphic design for 46 years at art schools and universities throughout the country, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Art Academy of Cincinnati, and the University of Northern Iowa. Since retiring, he has continued to teach online for Drake University and the College of William and Mary. He has published ten books and literally hundreds of articles on art, architecture, and design-related subjects. His most recent books are Frank Lloyd Wright and Mason City: Architectural Heart of the Prairie (2015) and Dreams of Fields: Memory Traces of Iowa’s Past (2025).

All are invited to attend this event at no charge. Donations are accepted.