Not titled [portrait of 'Mickey']

This portrait of a young Australian soldier in uniform is probably of a Captain from the 2/14th Battalion, done by J. Nakanishi of Tokyo at the Japanese Liason Office, Pare Pare. The 2/14th Battalion were guarding Japanese prisoners at Pare Pare- they arrived in October 1945 and departed on the 22nd of January 1946. The painting was found with an original letter from the sitter (Mickey) to his sweetheart. The letter states that the artist "...took about two hours to do it, using canvas and paints he still retained from Japan. He has already painted over 80 Australians." The letter also states that this portrait "... is the first one [the artist] has done with the hat on." A device which balances the composition.