THIS SUPERB new exhibition from Tate Britain marks the centenary of the end of the First World War, and examines how artists – many of whom had seen military service – attempted to interpret and convey to a civilian population their experiences on the battlefield, writes Sarah Warren.
Artists found personal ways to portray the realities of war; some painted during the conflict itself – often on leave – others were commissioned as official war artists. Many took their experiences and painted after the war ended – some produced direct representations of scenes from the battlefield, others more esoteric offerings which challenged the previous order.
The title of this exhibition is a slight misnomer, as many of the artworks on display in the opening gallery were created before the end of the war; however, the inclusion of such earlier pieces merely enhances the impact of this powerful and moving retrospective.
Impressive and thoughtfully curated, it includes art from both sides of the conflict; British, French and German artists are all represented. Many of the big names are here: C R W Nevinson, William Orpen, John and Paul Nash, Jacob Epstein, Otto Dix and Marcel Gromaire, to name but a few –and the exh…
