[Head of Gallipoli soldier in pink and gold]

Place Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli
Accession Number ART91436
Collection type Art
Measurement Framed: 125.2 mm x 94.9 mm x 4.8 mm x 21 kg; Unframed: 122.2 cm x 91.4 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description alkyd on hardboard
Maker Nolan, Sidney
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made 1977
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

Head of Gallipoli soldier wearing hat; pink background at right; gold at left. The bright almost neon colours of the background belie the portrait of the soldier. He appears to be masked which could be hiding his innocence and shame. When Nolan returned to the 'Gallipoli' series in 1977 the portrait types of soldiers had lost their spark of innocence and somehow felt tarnished. Time had caught up with their innocence and Australia's and disenchantment had set in. They appeared corrupted by what they had experienced and seen at Gallipoli.