A Forward Gun on a Patrol Boat 1919

Arthur Lismer’s print, 'A Forward Gun on a Patrol Boat’—wow, it’s all about the scratchy energy of marks, isn't it? I imagine Lismer working fast, maybe even on the boat itself, trying to capture the urgency of the moment. The black ink feels immediate, like he's wrestling with the scene, not just copying it. What was he thinking about as he etched those lines? Was he scared? Proud? How could a gun ever feel ‘forward’ – is that just about the direction it's pointing? Or does it have something to do with a feeling or sensation? The artist seems to be grappling with all these questions, using mark-making to work through them. It reminds me a bit of some of the German Expressionist woodcuts, Kirchner maybe, but with a damp, naval twist. Painters are always looking at other painters, pinching ideas, having arguments across time, and Lismer’s right in there, adding his own voice to the conversation. It’s amazing, isn’t it, how a bunch of scratches can speak volumes.