Good world war 2 art sources?

[tHy]

Hi, not exactly sure if this is the right place to ask, but does anyone have some good sources where I can find pictures (not photographs) from WWII era in good quality and good size (800x600 minimum) in the net? I need various material for graphic design in a project (see sig) where I'm currently organising member and I simply prefer painted pictures way over photographs for that. The pictures are to be edited and used as loading screens and "propaganda" published by the two teams.

I would take all you can find: Painting involving battles, still pictures, landscapes, soldiers, entrenchements etc.; it only has to be around WWII military era and should not include too much gore stuff (no blood or massacred people or stuff...)
Of course focus is on paintings involving naval or aerial subjects.
It doesn't matter if the pictures are not contemporary and made in this century by skilled and ambitious photoshoppers, they just have to "lookalike".

Example:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8p5zYtmzlCM/Ra3Dcn3171I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/9ZUxTTI58wc/IIww+airplanes+(56).jpg
http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/ships/U%20202%20painting.jpg
http://wallpapers.dpics.org/wallpapers/18/Pacific_Fighters%2C_World_War_II_Flight_Simulator. jpg

http://spitfire.ic.cz/index2.htm

Just some quickly googled examples (except the last one, I found that site long time ago and still love it)

Would be grateful if you could direct me to some sources :)

Please ask if anything is unclear, English is not my native language and it's sometimes diffcult to "transmit the message" as intendend... :(

PS: And yeah, I'm one of the undergrounders in this forum, lurking for long (May 2005) but never posting...I love subsims, but simply am engaged in other communities already and one only has so much time...

[UnderseaLcpl]

Actually, your English is quite good. However, I don't know of any online sources for WW2 artwork. The best I can do is suggest a book, specifically German War Art 1939-1945 by W. Yenne and Dr. K. Dills.

It seems to fit the criterion you specified, except it has a lot of artwork depicting ground warfare, and has a lot of good painting, shetches, etc.

I hope that helps a bit. I have books with Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine artwork, but I don't know where they are. If I find them I'll post them:up:

Hope your project works out well!

[Letum]

Many nations had official war artists. That might be a good place to start.

i.e. HERE (http://images.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK274&q=%22official+war+artist%22&btnG=Search+Images)

[Mush Martin]

there were a few here as I recall

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/royal.htm

[Letum]

I have hit gold! (http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/artwar/worldwar2_countries_e.html) :D

[Mush Martin]

Nice find should post that up on research links in the stickies.

[Schöneboom]

I love the paintings here; I'm just sorry the website images aren't bigger.

http://www.u-boat-art.com/index.html (http://www.u-boat-art.com/u_boat_naval.htm)

[tHy]

Thank you guys, some great sources there.:up:

I think I forgot to mention that I'm of course looking for free sources, as the project I'm working on is a simple free community project and nothing high class. The graphic work I'm doing there is "only" to build up the atmosphere and a bit of roleplay between the teams. (We run online campaigns with the Battlefield series and provide an enhanced background, involving economics, strategic world map etc.)

I'll take a look around for art books, as I'm also personally interested in those, but only if the price is right (poor student, that I am...:know: ).

The official war artists are somewhat difficult, especially the allied ones. They often are a bit too "abstract" or are rather gloomy. In my special case, populistic propaganda art showing absurd glory are the perfect match(exaggerated formulation). It's not that we want to deny the negative aspects of war, of course, but it would kinda kill the happy mood we want to have during our battles and in forums...

Realistic, harmless art showing scenes that could also have been photographed are just perfect, e.g. http://www.u-boat-art.com/u_boat_naval.htm is a very good example.

If scenes are from ground war, I have no problem with that, they are also required :)
I think those paintings make the subject displayed far more "lively".

If anyone is interested, up to now I was mainly using www.ww2incolor.com for photographs, as they have the most complete collection of wartime photos (especially coloured ones)