Torpedoed Oil Tanker 1940

Editor: This is Sir Muirhead Bone's "Torpedoed Oil Tanker," its date is unknown, currently held at the Tate. The raw, torn metal is incredibly striking. What can you tell me about the cultural significance of this image? Curator: Bone was commissioned as a war artist during both World Wars. This drawing powerfully illustrates the industrial devastation of wartime, humanizing the cost through detailed depiction, but also functions as propaganda by evoking public sympathy and bolstering support for war efforts. What do you think about this? Editor: So the drawing would shape public opinion about the war? Curator: Precisely. Images like this weren’t just documentation; they were tools used to cultivate specific emotional and political responses. It's interesting to consider how artists become entangled in these power dynamics. I wonder how Bone felt about it? Editor: That’s given me a lot to think about, especially the use of art in shaping public sentiment during war. Curator: Indeed, it shows how art reflects and influences historical narratives.