Submarines: frontispiece ('Submarine dream')

This lithograph shows the artists hand, a sailor at the steering wheel of the submarine and an anchor, compass and diving helmet, the essentials of deep sea operation. A depiction of the submarine in operation is located above the drawing of a submarine port hole through which people enter the deep interiors of the submarine. This was one of ten prints made from drawings of submarine interiors executed during summer 1940 at Portsmouth and HMS Dolphin, Hampshire.

In February 1940 Eric Ravilious joined his colleagues John Nash and Muirhead Bone as an artist appointed to the Royal Navy. It was the first time he was able to paint almost full time and his rate of completion also lead to a more rapid development in technique and range of subject matter.