Unfortunately, no, there is no way to make icons disappear so you can see your wallpaper. However, you can make the first "page" be blank so that there are no icons (except for those you have on your dock).
To do, press and hold an icon until they all start wiggling. Then, working from/starting with the last page, move each page's icon(s) to the last page. Then, keep moving the icons one page to the right until you've moved them all off your first page. Once you've got them all moved, double click the Home button to stop the icon jiggle. You should now have the first page empty of icons.
Hope this helps.
Marilyn