had to do with keeping artists alive Does "had to do with keeping artists alive" in the last line of the provided context imply some of these goals which were not so sublime intended to employ artists as war artists instead of sending them to battle fields for fighting, in order to save their lives? Context: Nonetheless, this conflict was not a surprise for many observers, and authorities had to some extent anticipated its consequences. The plans for war art reflected this attitude. Those countries that valued their First World War art established well-thought-out programmes with need and goals similar to those in the previous conflict. Many of these goals related to national identity and the record of history, while others, perhaps less laudatory, had to do with keeping artists alive.