| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART19593 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 23.6 x 31.3 cm (irreg) |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | watercolour, pencil, carbon pencil on grey card |
| Maker |
Rae, Iso |
| Place made | France: Nord Pas de Calais, Pas de Calais, France: Nord Pas de Calais, Pas de Calais |
| Date made | 1919 |
| Conflict |
Period 1910-1919 First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
NYD at Lion d'Argent, YMCA, Etaples, August 1919; verso: Figure of a French woman, with hands on hips
Description
The work depicts a theatrical performance for 'NYD' (not yet diagnosed) patients. These patients were often suffering from psychiatric illnesses caused by shell-shock. The entertainment was held in the YMCA hut at the Etaples Army Base Camp. The performance was of Pierrot and Columbine, played by an all-male cast as was customary for First World War entertainment. The work is a lively and spontaneously executed watercolour. The view from the back of the audience allows Rae to leave faceless the forgotten men waiting in Etaples to be sent home; verso: Figure of a French woman with her hands on her hips. Iso Rae (1860-1940) was one of only two Australian women artists who were able to depict the First World War at close quarters. Rae was not an official war artist, but produced about 200 pastel drawings while working for the Voluntary Aid Detachment of the British Cross (VAD) in the large army camp at Étaples from 1915-1919.