Working Submarine Controls Submerged - Eric Ravilious

A detailed lithograph by Eric Ravilious depicting the interior of a submarine and its crew at work during the Second World War.

Eric Ravilious produced this work during his tenure as an official war artist for the British government. Commissioned to document the activities of the Royal Navy, he spent time aboard submarines to observe the claustrophobic and technical environment of underwater warfare. This lithograph captures the interior of a submarine, focusing on the crew members operating the complex machinery required to navigate beneath the surface.

Ravilious employs his characteristic style, using layered textures and a controlled palette to convey the atmosphere of the vessel. The composition is structured around the central hatch, which provides a glimpse into the depth of the submarine, while the two figures are positioned to balance the foreground. The use of stippling and cross-hatching creates a sense of mechanical density, reflecting the cramped conditions of the submarine. The soft yellow light emanating from the overhead fixtures contrasts with the cool blue tones of the crew uniforms and the metallic surfaces of the controls.

His approach to this subject avoids the dramatic heroics often associated with war art. Instead, he focuses on the routine, technical nature of the crew's work. The precision of his line work and the deliberate arrangement of the machinery demonstrate his background in design and illustration. By depicting the submarine as a space of quiet, concentrated activity, Ravilious provides a view into the hidden realities of naval operations during the Second World War. This print is a representative example of his ability to translate industrial and military subjects into a refined, graphic language.