Australian official war artists
Encyclopedia
Australian official war artists are those who have been expressly employed by either the Australian War Memorial
(AWM) or the Army Military History Section (or its antecedents). These artist soldiers depicted some aspect of war through art; this might be a pictorial record or it might commemorate how war shapes lives.
War artists have explored a visual and sensory dimension of war which is often absent in written histories or other accounts of warfare. Official war artists have been appointed by governments for information or propaganda purposes and to record events on the battlefield; but there are many other types of war artist.
A war artist
creates a visual account of war by showing its impact as men and women are shown waiting, preparing, fighting, suffering, celebrating, The works produced by war artists illustrate and record many aspects of war, and the individual's experience of war, whether allied or enemy, service or civilian, military or political, social or cultural. The rôle of the artist and his work embraces the causes, course and consequences of conflict and it has an essentially educational purpose. For example, C.E.W. Bean
's Anzac Book influenced the artists who grew up between the two world wars; and the war art
of their childhoods provided a precedent and format for them to follow as war artists of the Second World War.
The AWM have appointed war artists to record the activities of Australian forces in Korea
, Vietnam
, East Timor
and Afghanistan
; and both the AWM and the Australian Army
have appointed official war artists to depict Australian forces in Iraq
.
Will Dyson
, an expatriate Australian artist living in London petitioned the Australian government to allow him to travel to the Western Front
where Australian forces were fighting. In 1917 he was finally granted permission to accompany the Australian Imperial Force
to record the activities of its soldiers and thus became the first Australian official war artist.
This early scheme was expanded upon and other Australian artists were commissioned to undertake forays to the front lines to record the Australian experience of war. Artists who had already enlisted and were fighting with the AIF
, were appointed official war artists for the Australian Army
.
, continued the scheme and appointed war artists whilst the Australian Army
, Royal Australian Navy
and Royal Australian Air Force
appointed their own official war artists from within their ranks. Other venues have honored Australian participation in the war.
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
(AWM) or the Army Military History Section (or its antecedents). These artist soldiers depicted some aspect of war through art; this might be a pictorial record or it might commemorate how war shapes lives.
War artists have explored a visual and sensory dimension of war which is often absent in written histories or other accounts of warfare. Official war artists have been appointed by governments for information or propaganda purposes and to record events on the battlefield; but there are many other types of war artist.
A war artist
War artist
A war artist depicts some aspect of war through art; this might be a pictorial record or it might commemorate how "war shapes lives." War artists have explored a visual and sensory dimension of war which is often absent in written histories or other accounts of warfare.- Definition and context:A...
creates a visual account of war by showing its impact as men and women are shown waiting, preparing, fighting, suffering, celebrating, The works produced by war artists illustrate and record many aspects of war, and the individual's experience of war, whether allied or enemy, service or civilian, military or political, social or cultural. The rôle of the artist and his work embraces the causes, course and consequences of conflict and it has an essentially educational purpose. For example, C.E.W. Bean
Charles Bean
Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean , usually identified as C.E.W. Bean, was an Australian schoolmaster, judge's associate, barrister journalist, war correspondent and historian....
's Anzac Book influenced the artists who grew up between the two world wars; and the war art
War art
War art is considered a genre of art. It is characterized by war, military subjects and war activities, as part of the wider field of military art. The distinction between war and military art is not clear-cut. The works described as war art represent a broad range of subject matter and styles....
of their childhoods provided a precedent and format for them to follow as war artists of the Second World War.
The AWM have appointed war artists to record the activities of Australian forces in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
; and both the AWM and the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
have appointed official war artists to depict Australian forces in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
First World War
The Australian tradition of war artists started with the First World War.Will Dyson
Will Dyson
]William Henry Dyson was an Australian illustrator and political cartoonist.-Early life:Dyson was born at Alfredton, near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, the son of George Dyson, then a hawker and later a mining engineer, and his wife Jane, née Mayall. Dyson was educated at state schools at...
, an expatriate Australian artist living in London petitioned the Australian government to allow him to travel to the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
where Australian forces were fighting. In 1917 he was finally granted permission to accompany the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
to record the activities of its soldiers and thus became the first Australian official war artist.
This early scheme was expanded upon and other Australian artists were commissioned to undertake forays to the front lines to record the Australian experience of war. Artists who had already enlisted and were fighting with the AIF
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
, were appointed official war artists for the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
.
Second World War
During the Second World War, the Australian War MemorialAustralian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, continued the scheme and appointed war artists whilst the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
appointed their own official war artists from within their ranks. Other venues have honored Australian participation in the war.
First World War
- George BellGeorge Bell (painter)George Frederick Henry Bell was an Australian painter.He was born in Kew, Victoria, the son of George Bell, a public servant, and educated at Kew High School. He studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School from 1895-1903...
, 1878–1966. - George Benson, 1886–1960.
- Charles BryantCharles David Jones BryantCharles David Jones Bryant , known as Charles Bryant, was an Australian marine artist.Bryant was born at Sydney, the fifth son of John Ambrose Bryant, storekeeper, and his wife Caroline, née Leedon. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and studied the cello...
, 1883–1937. - George CoatesGeorge James CoatesGeorge James Coates was an Australian artist.-Early life:Coates was born in Emerald Hill , the son of John Coates, an artist-lithographer of English stock, and his wife Elizabeth, a daughter of Ephraim Irwin who came from Ireland...
- Frank R. Crozier, 1883–1948.
- Will DysonWill Dyson]William Henry Dyson was an Australian illustrator and political cartoonist.-Early life:Dyson was born at Alfredton, near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, the son of George Dyson, then a hawker and later a mining engineer, and his wife Jane, née Mayall. Dyson was educated at state schools at...
, 1880–1938. - A. Henry FullwoodAlbert Henry FullwoodAlbert Henry Fullwood was the Australian official war artist to the 5th Division in the First World War.Fullwood was born in Erdington, Birmingham, son of Frederick John Fullwood, jeweller, and his wife Emma, née Barr. From 1878, Fullwood studied art at evening classes at the Birmingham Institute...
, 1863–1930. - Charles Web GilbertCharles Web GilbertCharles Marsh Web Gilbert was a self-taught Australian sculptor renowned both within Australia and abroad.Gilbert was born near Maryborough, Victoria. His father died when he was two months old, and his mother was left with three young children. Gilbert received a state school education but began...
, 1867-1925. - George Washington LambertGeorge Washington LambertGeorge Washington Thomas Lambert ARA was an Australian artist, known principally for portrait paintings and as a war artist during the First World War.-Early life:...
, 1873–1930.
- Fred LeistFred LeistFrederick William Leist was an Australian artist. During the First World War, he was an official war artist with Australian forces in Europe.-Early life:...
, 1878–1945. - Daryl LindsayDaryl LindsaySir Ernest Daryl Lindsay was an Australian artist and member of the creative Lindsay family.-Early life:...
- John LongstaffJohn LongstaffSir John Campbell Longstaff was an Australian painter, war artist and a five-time winner of the Archibald Prize. He was a cousin of Will Longstaff, also a painter....
, 1862–1941. - Will LongstaffWill LongstaffCaptain William Frederick Longstaff was an Australian painter and war artist best known for his works commemorating those who died in the First World War.-Birth and education:...
, 1879–1953. - W. B. McInnes
- H. Septimus PowerH. Septimus PowerHarold Septimus Power was a New-Zealand born Australian artist, who was an official war artist for Australia in World War I.-Early life:...
, 1877–1951. - James Quinn, 1869–1951.
- Arthur StreetonArthur StreetonSir Arthur Ernest Streeton was an Australian landscape painter.-Early life:Streeton was born in Mount Duneed, near Geelong, and his family moved to Richmond in 1874. In 1882, Streeton commenced art studies with G. F. Folingsby at the National Gallery School.Streeton was influenced by French...
, 1867–1943. - Charles WheelerCharles Wheeler (painter)Charles Arthur Wheeler OBE, DCM was an Australian painter.Born in New Zealand, he arrived in Australia in 1892.He won the Archibald Prize for 1933....
Second World War
- Harold Abbott, 1906–1986.
- Yosl BergnerYosl BergnerYosl Bergner is an Israeli painter.-Biography:Yosl Bergner was born in Vienna in 1920 and grew up in Warsaw.With rampant anti-Semitism in Europe, the Freeland League for Jewish Territorial Colonisation was formed in July 1935, to search for a potential Jewish homeland...
, 1920– . - Stella BowenStella BowenEsther Gwendolyn "Stella" Bowen was an Australian artist, born in North Adelaide in the southern part of the country. As a young girl, Bowen enjoyed drawing and convinced her mother to allow her to study with Margaret Preston...
, 1893–1947. - Ernest BuckmasterErnest BuckmasterErnest William Buckmaster Australian artist born in Victoria who won the Archibald Prize in 1932 with a portrait of Sir William Irvine.Buckmaster studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne ....
, 1897–1968. - Colin ColahanColin ColahanColin Cuthbert Orr Colahan was an Australian painter and sculptor. He created the 'Sirena' fountain for the Italian town of Bordighera. His sculpture of the head of Victor Smorgon was bought by the National Gallery of Victoria...
, 1897-1987. - William DargieWilliam DargieSir William Alexander Dargie CBE was an Australian painter, known especially for his portrait paintings. He holds the record for the most Archibald Prize wins; eight. He was an official Australian War Artist during World War II.- Biography :William Dargie was born in Footscray, Victoria, the first...
, 1912–2003. - William DobellWilliam DobellSir William Dobell, OBE was an Australian artist .The electoral Division of Dobell is named after him.- Life :...
, 1899–1970. - Russell DrysdaleRussell DrysdaleSir George Russell Drysdale, AC was an Australian artist. He won the prestigious Wynne Prize for Sofala in 1947, and represented Australia at the Venice Biennale in 1954...
, 1912–1981. - Ray Ewers, 1917–1998.
- Harold FreedmanHarold FreedmanHarold Freedman was an artist from Victoria, Australia renowned for his work in public murals.Also known as Freidman.Collections include Ballarat Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia- Notable works and achievements :...
, 1915–1999. - Donald FriendDonald FriendDonald Stuart Leslie Friend was an Australian artist, writer and diarist.- Early life :Born in Sydney, precociously talented both as an artist and a writer, Friend grew up in the artistic circle of his bohemian mother...
, 1915–1989. - John Goodchild, 1898–1980.
- Murray GriffinMurray GriffinVaughan Murray Griffin was an Australian print maker and painter. Commonly known as Murray Griffin, he was born in Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria to parents Vaughan and Ethel Griffin. Griffin spent most of his life living in the Eaglemont and Heidelberg area in Melbourne although he travelled around...
, 1903–1992. - Henry HankeHenry HankeHenry Hanke was born in Sydney in 1901. He was an Australian painter and teacher. He won the Archibald Prize in 1934 with a self portrait. He won the inaugural Sulman Prize in 1936 with his painting La Gitana. Hanke was a war artist during the Second World War, during which he completed many...
, 1901–1989. - Ivor HeleIvor HeleSir Ivor Henry Thomas Hele, CBE was an Australian artist. He was the longest serving war artist for the Australian War Memorial and completed more commissioned works than any other Australian artist in the history of Australian art.He was the first war artist appointed in the Second World War, and...
, 1912–1993. - Sali HermanSali HermanSali Herman was a Swiss-born Australian artist, one of Australia's Official War Artists for the Second World War....
, 1898–1993. - Nora HeysenNora HeysenNora Heysen AM was an Australian artist, the first woman to win the prestigious Archibald Prize for portraiture and the first Australian woman appointed as an official war artist.-Biography:...
, 1911–2003. - Frank HinderFrank HinderFrancis Henry Critchley Hinder was an award winning Australian painter, sculptor and art teacher who is also known for his camouflage designs in World War II.-Education:Frank Hinder was born in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1906...
, 1906–1992. - Ludwig Hirschfeld MackLudwig Hirschfeld MackLudwig Hirschfeld Mack was a German/Australian artist.His formative education was 1912-1914 at Debschitz art school in Munich, and 1922 at the Bauhaus-University Weimar where following Kurt Schwerdtfeger he further developed "Farblichtmusiken" , a light and colour modulator...
, 1895–1965. - Frank HodgkinsonFrank HodgkinsonFrank Hodgkinson AM was a noted Australian printmaker, painter and graphic artist.-Life:Hodgkinson was educated at Fort Street High School and after leaving began work as a commercial artist and newspaper illustrator...
AMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, 1919-2001. - Herbert McClintockHerbert McClintockHerbert McClintock was a social realist Artist born in Perth, Western Australia in 1906, died 1985.Studied at the National Gallery of Victoria School from 1925 to 1927 and again in 1930, where he met fellow social realists Noel Counihan and Roy Dalgarno. Earned a living as a signwriter and...
, 1906–1985. - Arthur MurchArthur MurchArthur Murch Australian artist who won the Archibald Prize in 1949 with a portrait of Bonar Dunlop. He was interested in the French post-Impressionists, Cézanne and Seurat. His style later became more cubist. He was appointed as an official war artist for six months during the Second World War...
, 1902–1989. - Sydney Nolan, 1917–1992.
- Frank Norton, 1916–1983.
- Tony RaftyTony RaftyTony Rafty OAM is a Greek Australian artist. He specialises in drawing caricatures.Rafty was born in Paddington, New South Wales...
, 1915– . - Grace Cossington SmithGrace Cossington SmithGrace Cossington Smith AO OBE was an Australian artist and pioneer of modernist painting in Australia and was instrumental in introducing Post-Impressionism to her home country...
, 1892–1984. - Grace Taylor, 1897–1988.
- Ralph Walker, 1912–2003.
Recent conflicts
- Rick AmorRick AmorRick Amor is an Australian artist and figurative painter. He was an official war artist.-Life and work:Rick Amor was born in Frankston, Victoria, Australia. He has a certificate in art from the Caulfield Institute of Technology, and Associate Diploma in Painting from the National Gallery School,...
, 1948– , Peacekeeping in East TimorEast TimorThe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. - Peter ChurcherPeter ChurcherPeter Churcher is an Australian artist. He paints portraits and figures in a realistic style.-Life and work:Peter Churcher was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He is the son of Betty Churcher, who was the director of the National Gallery of Australia from 1990-1997. Churcher is currently living and...
, 1964– , War on TerrorismWar on TerrorismThe War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. - George GittoesGeorge Gittoes- Subject matter :With global vision, George Gittoes has set up mobile studios for three decades, creating works in regions of conflict and upheaval around the world...
AMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, 1949– . - Shaun GladwellShaun GladwellShaun Gladwell is an Australian video artist who has gained worldwide acclaim for his video art, painting and photographs.-Early life:The artist was born in Sydney in 1972 and graduated from Sydney University's Sydney College of the Arts...
, 1972– , War in Afghanistan. - Ivor HeleIvor HeleSir Ivor Henry Thomas Hele, CBE was an Australian artist. He was the longest serving war artist for the Australian War Memorial and completed more commissioned works than any other Australian artist in the history of Australian art.He was the first war artist appointed in the Second World War, and...
, 1912–1993, Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union... - Ken McFadyenKen McFadyenKen McFadyen is an Australian war artist born in Preston, Victoria in 1939. He was appointed as an official war artist for the Vietnam War. He was in Vietnam for 7 months, arriving in mid-August 1967...
, 1939–1997, Vietnam War - Lewis Miller, 1959– , War in Iraq.
- Frank Norton, 1916–1983, Korean War
- Wendy SharpeWendy SharpeWendy Sharpe is an Australian artist. Winner of the Sulman Prize in 1986 with Black Sun - Morning and Night and the Archibald Prize in 1996 with Self Portrait - as Diana of Erskineville, she has entered the Archibald Prize at least 6 times and been hung at least 3 times...
, 1960– , Peacekeeping in East Timor
Further Reading
- Gallatin, Albert Eugene. Art and the Great War. (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1919).