De-icing Aircraft 1942

Eric Ravilious, a British artist, made "De-icing Aircraft" during World War II when he was working as a war artist for the Royal Air Force. The painting captures a moment of routine maintenance in extreme conditions, an everyday scene made extraordinary by the context of war. Ravilious was embedded within the RAF and made many paintings of airmen in similar settings. These paintings were intended to show the public at home the work being done to defend them. It's important to remember that the lives of the airmen, and Ravilious himself, were at constant risk. He disappeared in 1942 while on a mission in Iceland. The subdued palette and delicate washes create a sense of quiet tension. Ravilious found beauty in the bleakness, documenting the human side of war. The painting invites reflection on the unsung heroes who keep things running in the face of adversity.