Small Talk

Places
Accession Number ART02430
Collection type Art
Measurement framed: 53.4 x 69 cm; unframed: 46.8 x 62.2 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil on board
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made 1920
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Depicts two soldiers lying in a bomb crater, in a war damaged landscape, having a conversation. The full title Dyson gave to this painting was; 'Small Talk: "No Brig., I says/ send me back to the/ boys- the transport's/ no good to me/ I never joined the / war to be a mule's batman!'. Will Dyson was the first Australian official war artist to visit the front during the First World War, travelling to France in December 1916, remaining there until May 1917, making records of the Australian involvement in the war. He was formally appointed as an official war artist, attached to the AIF, in May 1917, working in France and London throughout the war. His commission was terminated in March 1920.