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Lot Essay
As a coastguard on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, Tunnard was well aware of the problems in the planning for the invasion of France and certainly knew of at least one of the disasters that occured during the preparations. Although titled 5th June 1944, the present work was painted in May before the landings in Normandy by allied troops had actually taken place and it was originally titled Eve of D-Day.
Like many of Tunnard's paintings when he had a particular idea in mind, it is easy to suggest what particular parts represent and in some cases a whole story. However, although Tunnard kept records of his paintings, his comments about individual ones are usually little more than a personal reminder. He certainly enjoyed discussing his work with anyone who showed real interest, but none of his friends bothered to record much of what he said. This is especially a pity in the case of paintings done during and immediately after the war, because, in the words of a Times art critic; 'Mr John Tunnard ['s] ... imagery seems to spring directly from the war, from a time when deserted airstrips beneath the moon and skies scored with the smoke-trails of several aerial battles brought a sudden anticipatory glimpse of the space age'. 5th June 1944 suggests the deck of an aircraft carrier with a plume of smoke from a structure at the forward end. An aircraft metamorphoses into a Klee-inspired shape. The viewer can only speculate whether half the deck is in red and the water is also tinted red because, during the weeks before the invasion, Tunnard feared the coming bloodshed.
B.W.
Like many of Tunnard's paintings when he had a particular idea in mind, it is easy to suggest what particular parts represent and in some cases a whole story. However, although Tunnard kept records of his paintings, his comments about individual ones are usually little more than a personal reminder. He certainly enjoyed discussing his work with anyone who showed real interest, but none of his friends bothered to record much of what he said. This is especially a pity in the case of paintings done during and immediately after the war, because, in the words of a Times art critic; 'Mr John Tunnard ['s] ... imagery seems to spring directly from the war, from a time when deserted airstrips beneath the moon and skies scored with the smoke-trails of several aerial battles brought a sudden anticipatory glimpse of the space age'. 5th June 1944 suggests the deck of an aircraft carrier with a plume of smoke from a structure at the forward end. An aircraft metamorphoses into a Klee-inspired shape. The viewer can only speculate whether half the deck is in red and the water is also tinted red because, during the weeks before the invasion, Tunnard feared the coming bloodshed.
B.W.