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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Searchlights

T.B. Meteyard. "Searchlights Over London," 1917. © IWM (Art.IWM ART 17172)
Just an image today, from the IWM's ever-wonderful collections database. Meteyard's beautiful painting illustrates a definitively modern moment in London. Searchlights, which came into use in 1916 in England, strike bright beams through a murky atmosphere. Though they are powerful, it seems ominously doubtful whether they can illuminate more fully the gloom that pervades this scene. A mid-war meditation, certainly.

The peak of Dissertation Mountain is within sight! It will be a few weeks before I'm done, but I'm getting there. Thank you for reading!

© Fiona Robinson
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3 comments:

  1. Richard HannaySeptember 7, 2012 at 2:39 PM

    Superb painting, thanks for sharing. There's a stunning night time image of Lambeth Bridge with searchlights blazing taken sometime in WW1 which i'll try and find...

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  2. Richard HannaySeptember 7, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    Ah, well that didn't take long! http://www.prints-online.com/old_lambeth_bridge_world_war_i/print/4405685.html

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    Replies
    1. BrightstarSeptember 17, 2012 at 12:50 PM

      Wonderful detective work, Richard! The searchlight imagery from WWI is simply amazing.
      Thanks for reading,
      Fiona

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