No. 2 "The Reconstruction of Belgium"

Artist George Clausen (1852 - 1944)

Date1917

MediumLithograph on paper

Dimensions68.7 x 43.7 cm

ClassificationsPrint

Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Donated by the British Ministry of Information.

Object number457

DescriptionThis is a four colour planographic print (lithograph) on paper, and is part of a series entitled 'The Great War: Britain's Efforts And Ideals shown in a series of lithographic prints: 'The Ideals' series. There are a total of six lithographs in this particular series, and in total there are ten series. The lithographs are numbered as if the entire ten series are one, so this print is number 2.

The German army crossed the border into neutral Belgium on 4 August 1914 with the ultimate aim of pursuing an offensive campaign against France. This action led to Britain coming to Belgium’s defence, an obligation resulting from a Treaty it had with the country. The town of Ypres, in Flanders, occupied a strategic position as a bulwark against German advancement towards France and, as a result, was the scene of heavy fighting between German and Allied armies. Belgium was seen as the main victim of the war and Ypres a symbol of what Britain was fighting for. This lithograph, The Restoration of Belgium, forms part of the Ideals series and as the themes of this particular series relate to aspirations and hope for the future, it is appropriately depicted using colour. Clausen’s drawing was described as ‘noble in pictorial conception and spiritual in meaning.’ Here he depicts Belgium rising from the ashes, where ruins are being restored and new structures are being built. On a scaffold is a sculptor with hammer and chisel modelling a monument to Belgium’s strength. Below on a platform, plans are discussed by three men of varying ages, one of whom points to the clamouring crowd, revealing their patriotism and resilience to be the inspiration behind the reconstruction of the country. Among the crowd people embrace, children are raised aloft, tools are carried and Belgian flags are waved. Clausen’s bold draughtsmanship, emphasising the determination and resolve of the figures in the foreground, is heightened by the lighter shades used for the ruined buildings receding into the distance.
Jessica O'Donnell

The scene shows three men discussing a drawing of a monument. They are standing on scaffolding surrounding the monument in the drawing. A fourth man stands above on another section of monument and looks down at the other three. He has a stone carver’s mallet in his right hand and leans on the base of an obelisk. On the base of the obelisk are the letters 'BEL'. The obelisk is set on a plinth, which has the letters 'FORT', just at the head height of the figures discussing the drawing. Beyond the monument is a throng of women and children celebrating the end of the First World War and carrying Belgian flags. In the background are two ruined buildings, with scaffolding on one, set against a pale blue sky.

Clausen attended the design classes at the South Kensington schools from 1867-1873 with great success. He then worked in the studio of Edwin Long, R.A., and subsequently in Paris under Bouguereau and Robert-Fleury. Clausen was an official War Artist during World War I.

On View

Not on view