‘Artist as Witness: The Impact of War
25 October 2025 – 8 March 2026
This thought-provoking exhibition explores the importance of the artist as eyewitness, providing insights not only into warfare but also the impact of war on those involved and the communities affected. It includes artwork from the First and Second World War, as well as recent work by award-winning artist George Butler of the war in Ukraine.’
If you have returned after yesterday’s visit to the Russell Cotes Museum have a look round the gallery.
https://tidalscribe.com/2025/12/28/sunday-salon-victorian-christmas/
https://russellcotes.com/event/artist-as-witness/
Are artists as important as ever in recording war?
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 
These paintings and their stories are so moving, Janet! The moments they capture were hugely transformative for the people who were there experiencing them, and the artists not only invite us into their world, but also capture those moments in time which would otherwise have been long forgotten (or unknown by future generations)! I really found them quite touching! Thanks so much for sharing them!
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Thanks Anita, I’m so glad they made an impact. I was very taken with the exhibition, especially as Ukraine was featured as well.
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Those pictures are important and powerful reminders of the horrors we inflict on ourselves.
Some of them are lovely works of art, too. In spite of the subject matter, I would gladly hang them on my living room wall.
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Hello Stoney, yes I especially love the people pictures and I would have some on my wall.
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Hi Janet, I think artists are important in recording history in general. We know a lot about historical events and lifestyles from paintings and other artworks. This is a marvelous exhibition. How nice you could visit it.
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Thanks Robbie, I found the exhibition much more interesting than I expected. I love the pictures of ordinary people.
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Me too
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Including recent works from Ukraine in this exhibition reminds us that wars are not in the past. And paintings and drawings give a different perspective than photographs. Thanks for sharing this, Janet!
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Hello Audrey, yes it is strange that in Ukraine the soldiers are in dug outs and trenches, just like the firs world war and the citizens shelter underground just as they did in both world wars.
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Isn’t it interesting that artists still have something to add to the historical record of war. The exhibit must have been very moving to see in person.
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Yes they certainly do Liz.
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Thank you for sharing, Janet some of these are very moving..I love the pen and ink water colours the best although they are all excellent ..water colour is one of my favourite mediums xx
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You’re welcome Carol, I’m glad you enjoyed the visit.
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That’s my kind of exhibition. I was always fascinated by the war artists in the Imperial War Museum galleries. I lived quite close to that museum at one time, and visited often, as it was free to enter.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Free museums are great. This one has been free at times. Now if you want to go further than the film about the house and the nice cafe, you have to pay!
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A very important and educational exhibition, Janet. Glad you got the chance to take it all in. These folks give us a perspective we might not otherwise have.
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Hello Bruce, Yes it was very interesting, especially as it covered three wars a century apart.
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Janet, I love the way you have presented this museum visit. One picture, one clear explanation. You can’t possibly cover the whole museum, but I love your focusing process. The pictures you chose were powerful and surprising. I wouldn’t have expected restaurants, subways, and women’s hostels. So well done! 🙂 xxx
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Thanks Marsha, luckily it is a small gallery, but even so I had too many pictures when I got home and had to be selective.
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Making decisions like that is the hardest part of photography!
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