Like his contemporaries in Germany, British citizen Paul Nash was a professional artist prior to the war. When Britain declared war, Nash enlisted and was sent to the Western Front. The painting above, Ypres Salient at Night, reflects Nash’s involvement in the offensive at Ypres. By 1916, Nash was reached the rank of lieutenant. Throughout his time at the front, Nash could be seen making sketches of life in the trenches. In 1917, Nash was afforded time to create a series of paintings from his sketches as he was recuperating from a non-military accident. The series was designed as an exhibition that showed later in 1917. As a result, the British War Propaganda Bureau appointed Nash as a war artist. As a part of his new assignment he returned to the Western Front and produced a series of paintings which included The Menin Road, The Ypres Salient at Night, The Mule Track, A Howitzer Firing, Ruined Country, and Spring in the Trenches.
The Mule Track
