DOI Heft:
No. 317 (August 1919)
DOI Artikel:Hurst, Hugh: Dazzle-painting in war time
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21358#0110
DAZZLE-PAINTING IN WAR-TIME
“ S.S. 4 CLAN MCLEAN’ IN DOCK,
BIRKENHEAD.” WATER-COLOUR
BY L. CAMPBELL TAYLOR
with startling sharpness from the sur-
rounding gloom—part of a funnel, half a
mast, a bow where no bow should be—
and although the brilliance and clarity of
summer was lacking, the almost uncanny
strangeness was accentuated. 0 0
The forming-up of a convoy in the river
before a start on the perilous Atlantic run,
owing to the contrast of dark and light
colours, and the loss of certain portions of
the accepted outlines of hulls and deck
superstructures, was another medium for
the exposition of dazzle-painting, and the
cause of much bewilderment and specula-
tive comment on the part of onlookers on
landing-stage and ferry-boat. Here was
a kaleidoscopic effect as each vessel passed
slowly down the river to take up her
appointed station outside the bar ; stripes
crossing stripes, blue, black, green, and
grey appearing and disappearing. At times
a large patch of some strong colour would
detach itself from the side of a vessel, as
if by a miracle, and eventually disclose the
fact that it belonged to another vessel
lying unsuspectedly alongside ; and when,
finally, all were in position and were
94
viewed from a distance, there appeared
again nothing but an interesting confu-
sion. 0 0 0 a a 0
It was necessary frequently for vessels
to have their dazzle design altered, some
of the earlier plans showing room for
improvement, and the later stripe and
block designs were substituted. Ships so
treated would creep back to port with a
particularly odd-looking coat of many
colours, the wear and tear of a winter
journey across the Atlantic having played
havoc with the fresh paint of her new
design, causing the old one to appear in
patches, whilst the deckwork and super-
structure, not having suffered, would
remain unworn and up to date, add-
ing an unexpectedly gay spot in the
docks. 00000
Subjects for the painter, many of them
ready-made as regards arrangement of
mass, line, and colour, literally bristled
among the docks and would have proved
the happy hunting-ground for the artist
in search of material, but access in war-
time was difficult, if not impossible, ex-
cepting to the very favoured few. 0 0
“ S.S. 4 CLAN MCLEAN’ IN DOCK,
BIRKENHEAD.” WATER-COLOUR
BY L. CAMPBELL TAYLOR
with startling sharpness from the sur-
rounding gloom—part of a funnel, half a
mast, a bow where no bow should be—
and although the brilliance and clarity of
summer was lacking, the almost uncanny
strangeness was accentuated. 0 0
The forming-up of a convoy in the river
before a start on the perilous Atlantic run,
owing to the contrast of dark and light
colours, and the loss of certain portions of
the accepted outlines of hulls and deck
superstructures, was another medium for
the exposition of dazzle-painting, and the
cause of much bewilderment and specula-
tive comment on the part of onlookers on
landing-stage and ferry-boat. Here was
a kaleidoscopic effect as each vessel passed
slowly down the river to take up her
appointed station outside the bar ; stripes
crossing stripes, blue, black, green, and
grey appearing and disappearing. At times
a large patch of some strong colour would
detach itself from the side of a vessel, as
if by a miracle, and eventually disclose the
fact that it belonged to another vessel
lying unsuspectedly alongside ; and when,
finally, all were in position and were
94
viewed from a distance, there appeared
again nothing but an interesting confu-
sion. 0 0 0 a a 0
It was necessary frequently for vessels
to have their dazzle design altered, some
of the earlier plans showing room for
improvement, and the later stripe and
block designs were substituted. Ships so
treated would creep back to port with a
particularly odd-looking coat of many
colours, the wear and tear of a winter
journey across the Atlantic having played
havoc with the fresh paint of her new
design, causing the old one to appear in
patches, whilst the deckwork and super-
structure, not having suffered, would
remain unworn and up to date, add-
ing an unexpectedly gay spot in the
docks. 00000
Subjects for the painter, many of them
ready-made as regards arrangement of
mass, line, and colour, literally bristled
among the docks and would have proved
the happy hunting-ground for the artist
in search of material, but access in war-
time was difficult, if not impossible, ex-
cepting to the very favoured few. 0 0