Celebrating World Art Day: The Artists of WWII

Collection of Intrepid Museum. Gift of Edward Arthur Ritter and Valerie Junge. P2009.35.13

Art and humor thrive in the most unexpected places—even aboard Intrepid during World War II. Among the crew was Edward A. Ritter, a pilot, a Brooklyn native and graduate of Pratt Institute whose witty, morale-boosting sketches captured the camaraderie and absurdities of the experiences of naval aviators on aircraft carriers. These pilots risked their lives, saw their friends killed, experienced attacks against their ship and so much more. These cartoons helped raise their spirits and find laughter in their everyday lives.

As we celebrate World Art Day on April 15, let’s spotlight Ritter’s work and the enduring power of art—even in the harshest conditions.

Ritter drawing in his sketchpad while comrades watch. Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Mike Fink. P2019.57

World Art Day honors creative expression’s role in uniting cultures and fostering resilience. Ritter’s cartoons, drawn during downtime between missions, epitomize this spirit. His work often featured the recurring character Snipo. The character’s appearance is modeled after fellow pilot E.G. Blankenship, blending humor with the stark realities of war, offering levity to Ritter’s fellow aviators.

Here are some of his highlights:

Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Edward Aurthur Ritter and Valerie Junge. 2009.35.22

This drawing takes place in a ready room, a space on an aircraft carrier where pilots are briefed for their missions. Between missions, pilots socialized and relaxed in the ready room. Ritter depicts pilots playing checkers, an officer on the phone, gear strewn about, and even includes a self-portrait. The detail—down to helmets hanging from the ceiling—reveals the ship’s cramped, lively atmosphere.

Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Edward Arthur Ritter and Valerie Junge. 2009.35.30

The above drawing shows a candid scene of aviators playing cards, smoke curling from pipes and cigarettes as they take time to relax. The hanging life jackets remind viewers of the dangers lurking just beyond the game. These pilots may have to run to their airplanes at any moment, going from having fun and relaxing to having to focus on their combat mission.


Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Edward Arthur Ritter and Valerie Junge. 2009.35.35a-b

Ritter’s drawing shows a pilot kissing the ship’s flight deck after his first strike mission, his exhausted plane panting beside him. The relief of survival is palpable—a moment Ritter knew firsthand from his own experiences in battle.

Legacy of a Wartime Artist
Unfortunately, Ritter’s original art was destroyed in a kamikaze attack. One of the ship’s photographers documented Ritter’s watercolors, which allowed his work to survive in photographs and reprints. After the war, Ritter received a package of photo prints in the mail which his family later donated to the Museum.

Ritter’s work exemplifies how art can sustain hope, document history and humanize conflict. This World Art Day, explore, pick up a sketchpad—or simply take a page from Ritter’s book: create no matter the circumstances.

Want to see more? The Intrepid Museum archives house Ritter’s surviving cartoons, offering a window into WWII’s lighter moments. Tickets can be purchased here. Explore our collections at intrepid.emuseum and our digital guide.