Information
- BFI identifier18263
- Date1944 (Release)
- Production countryUnited Kingdom
- Production company
- SynopsisSurvey of British painting during war time. Showing some war artists - Anthony Gross, Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore. (Synopsis) Kenneth Clark explains the work of the War Artists Committee. Eric Newton analyses the work of some of the commissioned artists. Those seen in action include Paul Nash, Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore and Graham Sutherland. Exhibitions of paintings by civil defence workers. Rl. 1. National Gallery, London, street outside. People crowding into War Artists Exhibition (144-244). Inside Gallery, people looking at exhibits. Film explains reasons for growing interest in art at height of World War II. Describes how in 1939, art dealers closed, galleries stored valuable paintings, men seen carrying paintings from bare rooms of a large gallery (the Tate?) (270-320). Sir Kenneth Clark, Director of the National Gallery, speaks on the official employment of artists to record the War on canvas (324-390). Artists in the services record action and scenes from military life. Anthony Gross seen painting women at work in a gun sight (394-418). Clark tells of artists employed by Ministry of Information (MoI) painting home subjects suitable to their own style (419). Paintings of John Armstrong, Evelyn Dunbar, Leslie Cole seen (475). Stanley Spencer sent to Clyde to paint shipbuilders. Seen at shipyard making sketch notes, studying forms. In studio, painting is interpreted by Eric Newton, art critic to Manchester Guardian newspaper (620-686). 1940, Battle of Britain, twisted wreckage of crashed planes in field. Artist Paul Nash studying and sketching the twisted remains (724-884). Finished painting seen `Todes Meer' [Dead Sea]. Newton speaks of Nash's interpretation (885-988). Rl. 2. Fire raids, blazing buildings, firemen at work. Firemen artists give exhibition at Royal Academy, exterior of Academy, firemen lined up (70-80). Inside exhibition. Work of Leonard Rosaman chosen as outstanding, seen at work (89-120). People taking shelter in the Underground, rows of people sleeping on platforms (122-147). Henry Moore seen observing the sleepers (200). In his studio, Moore describes his method of reproducing his impressions using wax crayon and water-colour (260-434). Newton gives impression of finished work (514). A young artist, Denis Matthews sets up a Civil Defence exhibition of work by amateur painters in a Bond Street gallery. Selection Committee, Matthews with Matthew Smith, Sir William Reid Dick, Raymond Mortimer (604-630). Opening of exhibition by Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary, with Ellen Wilkinson MP (634-685). Rl. 3. Posters for the different exhibitions held during the war years. Assortment of `ordinary' people in gallery air their views on contemprary art. Eric Newton talks to them on appreciation of Graham Sutherland's work `Limestone Quarry' (130-808). Sutherland is seen at the quarry walking around and getting a feel for the place. In studio, woking from rough sketches, making general plan of painting. The finished work seen, and explained in detail by Eric Newton. Other Sutherland paintings shown `Cornish Tin Mine', Blitz paintings. The visitors complain that modern paintings are not beautiful and difficult to understand. Newton then quotes contemporary critics' disapproving views of works by Constable and Turner and explains that beauty comes with understanding, and that they must learn to interpret the artist's ideas to appreciate his work (890). (2527ft). (Shotlist)
- Genre
- SubjectNational Gallery (London)
Royal Academy of Arts (London)
World War II
Modern art movements
London Underground
Blitz
Art criticism
War Artists Exhibition
Battle of Britain
Posters
Nash, Paul (1889-1946)
Moore, Henry (1898-1986)
English painting
Spencer, Stanley (1891-1959)
Sutherland, Graham (1903-1980)
Firefighting
Evacuees
Exhibitions
Great Britain
London
Underground railways - Credits
- Cast
Title
Out of Chaos (Original)
EIDR identifier
10.5240/7079-3B4E-639B-E6A3-2AC2-1Category
Non FictionThis work is available to view in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank.
- Collections
- Film / Video
LTO5 - Video - MP4 - Viewing
LTO5 - Video - MP4 - Viewing
35mm BW Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
16mm BW Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
D3 - Video - Viewing
VHS cassette - Video - Viewing
Betacam SP - Video - Viewing
view all - StillsPhotograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1194161
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1194162
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1194163
Photograph: negative - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00o-6li
Photograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00n-vy2
view all - Articles
- +Out of Chaos
Work - 18263 - 1944 (Release)
United Kingdom - Film - Non Fiction
Hierarchy Display