Armoured Helmet 1956

Here's a painting of an Armoured Helmet made by Sidney Nolan. There's these bold, dark strokes mixed with brighter colours. Imagine Nolan, brush in hand, circling this image, trying to work it out. It’s not just about what the helmet looks like, but the feelings it brings up. Like a soldier, maybe, in their own isolated world? A feeling of being trapped inside something, but safe, too. Or what it’s like to be an artist! The brushstrokes are pretty thick, especially around the blues at the bottom, really making them pop. It’s a physical thing, the painting. The blue feels electric and alive. It connects to Nolan's other works too; he's always playing with these themes of identity and protection. We see this search in other artist’s work also. In the end, it all comes down to how a painter puts their mark on the world.