Artwork
The Camouflage Suite
The Camouflage Suite is a print by Jane Dixon. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print comes from Jane Dixon’s 2004 series *The Camouflage Suite*.
She often draws machines made to shield the body, like armor or iron lungs.
Here, Dixon shows tanks wrapped in nets and leaves to fool the eye.
That forces us to look twice at how we see protection.
Check out another artist who hides things in plain sight: Dixon, Jane.
Overview
The Camouflage Suite (2004) is a print series by Jane Dixon, exploring the interplay between perception, protection, and vulnerability through the depiction of camouflaged tanks and armoured vehicles.
Subject & Meaning
Dixon's work highlights the tension between the tanks' intended strength and their vulnerable, 'shimmering' appearance when camouflaged, metaphorically exposing the precariousness of bodily protection and the futility of war.
Technique & Style
By omitting scale and incorporating natural camouflage elements (nets, leaves), Dixon employs optical illusion, transforming robust vehicles into ambiguous, potentially fragile forms that blur the line between seeing and believing.
History & Provenance
Part of Jane Dixon's broader exploration of body-protecting machines (e.g., earlier works on armour, iron lungs), The Camouflage Suite extends her thematic focus with a specific emphasis on perception and illusion.
Context
The series invites comparisons with both natural forms (shells, nests) and architectural structures (citadels, ruins), subtly commenting on the relationship between constructed protection, environment, and the folly of territorial conflict.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jane Dixon’s prints blend bold shapes and sharp lines into scenes that feel both sharp and soft.
