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Notes
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In each of Kennington’s images a soldier dominates the foreground, contextualised by the scene behind him. This soldier is practising putting on his gas mask. More soldiers are helped with theirs behind him. The masks were to protect the soldiers from chemical attacks, such as mustard gas, which was used for the first time in the First World War. Although set in a trench, the image does not capture the harsh, dirty conditions that the soldiers encountered there. Showing soldiers in training and at the Front, these prints were described by one journalist as capturing ‘the spirit of our new, young army’. Kennington was probably chosen for this subject as he had himself enlisted with the 13th (Kensington) Battalion London Regiment and fought on the Western Front in France in 1914–1915.
This work forms part of the portfolio ‘The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals’, a series of 66 lithographic prints commissioned by the Ministry of Information in 1917. The series provides a broad and fascinating representation of Britain’s war objectives, military activities and effort on the Home Front.
Title
The Gas Mask
Date
1917
Medium
lithograph on paper
Measurements
H 50.9 x W 41 cm
Accession number
NMW A 13166
Acquisition method
gift from H. M. Ministry of Information, 1919
Work type
National Museum Cardiff
Cathays Park, Cardiff (Caerdydd) CF10 3NP Wales
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