| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART91287 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 30.4 x 25.4 cm |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | coloured crayon, wax, textile dye on coated paper |
| Maker |
Nolan, Sidney |
| Place made | United States of America: New York |
| Date made | September 1958 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
Swimmers at Gallipoli
Description
Three Gallipoli soldiers swimming in bright blue sea. This image embodies what must have been moments of joy and release for the Australian soldiers at Gallipoli, moments that would not have happened often. The nakedness of the three soldiers enhances the aspect of their vulnerability (as shells flew overhead) an idea that Nolan was interested in when depicting Australian soldiers at Gallipoli.
In an interview (13 April 1978) Sidney Nolan stated that the imagery in this work relates to the photographs of soldiers swimming in the 'Anzac Book', which he initially used as a source of inspiration for the Gallipoli series.