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COMMANDER OF A SUBMARINE LOOKING THROUGH A PERISCOPE 1941

Eric Ravilious (1903 – 1942)

Details

Dimension
28 X 71.7 CM
Media
LITHOGRAPH
Accession number
P2606

Summary

In 1940 Ravilious was posted to Gosport and started drawing a series of submarine interiors. The War Artists' Advisory Committee had suggested he produce a children's colouring book but the artist was unenthusiastic. Instead he proposed making a series of ten lithographs, to be printed by W S Cowell of Ipswich. Owing to a shortage of metal Cowell invented a senstised plastic sheet called Plasticowell as substitute for the zinc plates. Ravilious was not fully satisfied with the final works, considering them 'overworked and overdone compared with the first drawings which are much better'. Submarine Training Ship in Home Waters comes from the original series.

Glossary

  • Drawing

    The depiction of shapes and forms on a flat surface chiefly by means of lines although colour and shading may also be included. Materials most commonly used are pencil, ink, crayon, charcoal, chalk and pastel, although other materials, including paint, can be used in combination.

  • Metal

    Metal is a medium frequently used by artists to make art works - from sculpture to printmaking. Surfaces can display an array of colours and textures, and are capable of being polished to a high gloss; metal can be melted, cast, or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wire.

Portfolio