"Gibralter", strong point, Pozieres

Depicts a war-damaged landscape , with the remains of a building and smashed trees at Pozieres, France, during the First World War. Charles Bryant (1883-1937) was a painter who studied in London in 1908 and with the marine painter, J. Olsson at St. Ives, Cornwall. He first exhibited his works in New South Wales in 1900 and later at London and Paris salons. Appointed an official war artist in 1917, attached to the 2nd Division AIF in France. His work included paintings of the embarkation and disembarkation of troops at ports in France and studio reconstructions of action at sea. His commission was terminated in December 1918 and he returned to Australia in 1921 where he undertook further work for the Australian War Records. In 1923 he was commissioned to paint a series of works in connection with the occupation of German New Guinea by Australian troops.