Research Trail 13/05/19

My chosen interest and key starting point: 1940’s Art

To begin my research trail, I took straight to Google.co.uk and searched with the keywords ‘1940’ and ‘Art’, finding a credible website: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain/display/walk-through-british-art/1940

A painting immediately caught my eye: ‘Totes Meer’, Paul Nash, 1940-1. (Tate Ref: N05717) I love how the painting was of a landscape scene, the sea is choppy and the colours were subdued but still colourful, especially the orangey-yellow shoreline complimenting the blues of the ocean. I love how the aircraft has been painted to show movement and energy that has washed the pieces up onto the shore, I also like how the moonlight is bouncing off the aircraft to represent waves glinting. I noticed what looked like a wheel in the sea and on moving from a thumbnail view to a full-screen image of the painting, I realised the sea was in fact a composition of aircraft parts, specifically German World War 2 aircraft parts. This made me feel really excited and I knew that this was the perfect point of interest for my studies.
Looking at the date this painting was completed, after the end of The Battle of Britain and around the time of the Blitz, shows me that it was most likely poignant at the time of production because of the subject of the painting, but paintings of a war theme painted during the war could have been used as propaganda; this was a note to make for my research studies, what was the intention of the artist to produce this painting at this time?
I found a video through theartstory.org, produced by Tate at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YCxsCNCbno, in which Dr James Fox, art historian, discusses Nash’s painting and his personal history. This is the first time I have research a specific artist and found it quite interesting to know more about their personal life, their interests and hobbies. I think this historical research may help to build up a bigger picture of how an artist creates their artwork. Dr Fox proceeds with interesting opinions regarding Nash’s love of the natural world around him being alive and sentient. I feel this is perhaps why the moon in Totes Meer is so obvious and pronounced with the ring around it, to mark a stark contrast with the death of the aircraft wreckage in the sea. Also, could Nash have taken inspiration from artist Samuel Palmer with painting the moon as such a focal point in the sky? Furthermore, in this video, Nash is quoted to having referred to aircraft as “beautiful monsters” and “killer whales”. Could this be another reason that he saw the link between aircraft and the ocean? Research this further
It is obvious from reading an article at https://www.theartstory.org/artist-nash-paul-artworks.htm that one possible intention of Nash for this painting, considering it had a title in the German language, was that the Germans were meant to see it in an act of patriotism on behalf of the British. But what about the other side of the debate? What if the painting was propaganda for the British public to view? If it was propaganda, why did Nash entitle his painting in the ‘enemy’s’ language? Another mark to research this further in the next stage of the research trail.

When looking at the painting in more detail, further research clues are given to aid in the discovery if the painting was intended for propaganda or patriotism: the Swastika, and Iron Cross for example; were they placed here as a sign to the Germans that the British are successful in shooting down their planes to be left as a wreckage in the sea? Other questions arise from this point; is the painting of a sad and mournful nature because of the loss of life or is it a celebration that despite the war, the British are capable of victory against Germany? I am intrigued why there is such ambiguity for the intended perception this piece.

“Static and Dead”

Paul Nash, a letter written in 1941, IWM

Nash writes a letter in March 1941, held in Imperial War Museum files (found in the online archives) that describes the sea as “static and dead”. This gives me confidence that the style in which the work was painted; the mysterious moon, the solitary owl flying, the scene set at night, that this piece is almost meant to haunt; creating a feeling of loss for both the British and the Germans. Depicting death and destruction of not only German life and aircraft, but of the British landscape and natural elements. I feel it’s almost as if Nash is saying “nobody wins in War”. My initial reaction was of intrigue and optimism for this piece, but having completed light research on the context and intent of the artist and his painting, I now feel sad and unnerved by its message. I believe it shows the moments after death and loss have occurred, stillness, calmness and eeriness, like Nash described, “static and dead”.