Artwork
Submarine Series: Introductory Lithograph
Submarine Series: Introductory Lithograph is a print by Eric Ravilious. It dates from 1941 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Eric Ravilious’s 1941 lithograph, titled Submarine Series: Introductory, presents a cross‑sectional view of a submarine. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s wartime interest in machinery and the hidden spaces within.
Subject & Meaning
The image bisects the vessel, exposing its interior while the upper half hovers above a stylised, rippling blue plane that suggests water. Below, the lower half rests on a flat, textured surface. Within the hull, shadowy forms and faint green glows hint at the cramped, technical environment of a wartime submarine.
Technique & Style
Ravilious employs bold, yellow contour lines to delineate the submarine’s edges, creating a striking contrast against the muted tones of the surrounding fields. The exterior is rendered with smooth, simplified planes, whereas the interior is densely detailed, conveying a sense of mechanical complexity and visual tension.
History & Provenance
Created in the midst of World War II, the lithograph reflects Ravilious’s engagement with contemporary military subjects. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s print and drawing collection, illustrating the artist’s contribution to British wartime visual culture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Eric William Ravilious was a British painter, designer, book illustrator and wood-engraver.
