Artwork
La Cubitière
La Cubitière is a print by Raymond Arnold. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Australian artist Raymond Arnold created a series of eight etchings in 2002, each focusing on a fragment of a suit of armor set against a background of synthetic lace. The works juxtapose the metallic armor with a traditional Provençal textile pattern, merging historical motifs with contemporary materials.
Subject & Meaning
The prints explore the tension between strength and vulnerability, using the armor to symbolize martial power while the lace and folk pattern suggest delicacy, disposability, and working‑class origins. Themes of war, the fragility of the male body, and the exploitation of young laborers in conflict are woven throughout the series.
Technique & Style
Arnold employed etching to render the intricate details of armor components, then overlaid them with a synthetic lace ground and a centuries‑old Provençal design still sold in French markets. The combination of fine line work and patterned surface creates a layered visual dialogue between past and present.
History & Provenance
The series was prompted by Arnold’s encounter with a Louvre painting of Henri IV in full armor and by a personal pilgrimage to World War I cemeteries in France, where his grandfather and many Australian soldiers lie buried. These experiences informed the work’s commemorative tone.
Context
By referencing a royal portrait and the collective memory of the Great War, Arnold situates the prints within a broader discourse on national identity, militarism, and the socioeconomic background of soldiers. The Provençal textile motif links the images to everyday French culture, contrasting with the aristocratic armor.
Artist & collection
Artist
Raymond Arnold made precise intaglio prints in 2002, etching metal plates to pull delicate images.
