Vaught Corsair Shot From A Catapult
c. 1930
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
etching and aquatint
Dimensions
Image: 227 x 303 mm Sheet: 300 x 373 mm
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Accession Number
2008.115.1405
Art Historical Context
In the dynamic print *Vaught Corsair Shot From A Catapult*, created around 1930 by American artist Wayne L. Davis, we witness the thrill of early naval aviation. The title evokes the dramatic moment of a Vought Corsair fighter plane launching from a ship's catapult—a technological marvel of the interwar era that expanded aircraft carrier capabilities and foreshadowed the high-stakes aerial combat of World War II. Davis captures this sense of speed and innovation, reflecting the era's fascination with flight as nations raced to modernize their militaries. Rendered in etching and aquatint on a ...