Dimensions: support: 787 x 1270 mm frame: 973 x 1484 x 73 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Richard Eurich's "Night Raid on Portsmouth Docks," captures a chilling scene. The canvas employs oil to depict the port city under aerial attack. Editor: The painting's palette is striking. The stark contrast of reds and oranges against deep blacks creates an almost infernal atmosphere. Curator: Absolutely. Eurich's painting reflects a critical moment, a historical account of the bombing of British ports during World War II. Editor: The light beams cutting through the darkness add to the drama. It draws the viewer's eye across the scene. Curator: I find it fascinating how Eurich conveys both destruction and a sense of resilience. It's a poignant commentary on wartime Britain. Editor: It makes you contemplate the formal elements that contribute to its emotional impact. Curator: It's a testament to how art can engage with public memory and the politics of conflict. Editor: A powerful piece. I am struck by the simplicity of colour to convey so much.
Comments
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/eurich-night-raid-on-portsmouth-docks-n05690
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
The naval dockyard at Portsmouth was heavily bombed during the Second World War along with many other strategically important ports and industrial cities. The Ministry of Information sent artists across the country to record such attacks. In Portsmouth, Eurich made the drawings for this work ‘the day after the heavy bombing partly due to the presence of two battleships in the harbour’. At the centre of Eurich’s composition is a vessel from an earlier conflict: HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Its presence in the composition recalls a glorious naval history amid the chaos and destruction of the Blitz. Gallery label, September 2016