Sod This for a Game of Soldiers
A painting inspired by the famous football game between German and British soldiers on Christmas Day 1914 was unveiled at Castle Galleries, Exeter on Saturday 19 July ahead of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War on 4 August.
As Europe embarks on four years of events to mark the Great War, Bob Barker has produced ‘Sod This For A Game of Soldiers’, a touching commemoration that depicts unexpected fraternity in the gruesome theatre of war.
The Bradford-based artist, who turned professional in 2000 after years of painting as a hobby, spent months researching the conflict before creating the painting.
And now, Castle Galleries has commissioned 195 signed limited edition prints and the artwork is available to view at Castle Galleries, Exeter.
Painted in the nostalgic-style that this Yorkshire-born and bred artist is known and admired for, ‘Sod This For A Game Of Soldiers’ is an atmospheric work that shows a group of English and German soldiers playing football on Christmas Day 1914.
With the deep sandbanks of the trenches in the foreground, torn barbed wire fencing and trees that have been destroyed by bombing, this poignant piece of artwork is a timely reminder of how humanity can transcend the horrors of war.
Painted in characteristic dark and burned umber, the bleak landscape is punctuated by shafts of sunlight that pour through the menacing clouds, giving hope to what is a desolate place.
Barker said he was inspired to create the piece after he and his older brother began to talk about their grandfather William Barker, who served in the war.
“We still had one of his medals, it was the Great War Medal, the type that had an angel on it and his name was printed around the edge,” he explained.
“Doing a bit of research into my grandad’s military history got me reading numerous accounts and stories about the First World War and that made me contact my friend Dave Thirlwall, who runs a living history project at Murton Park just outside York.”
When Bob and Dave – whom the artist describes as the “most knowledgeable man on history I have ever known” – began to discuss key moments of the four-year conflict, it ignited a yearning in him to create the painting.
“He brought Christmas Eve 1914 to life for me, he removed all the glory and set my imagination racing, making me see in my mind’s eye what things were like, from the bomb- pitted no man’s land to the freezing cold with men who were starved not just of food, but of humanity,” said Bob.
“From a spark of an idea whilst talking with my brother, researching so much over a period of five months, imagining so many different emotions all of this poured out into the piece.”
Rita Jones, Castle Galleries, Exeter’s gallery manager, said: “Bob Barker’s work is mesmerising and we are so pleased to have his work on display at the gallery.
“You can’t help but be moved by this incredible piece of art by Bob Barker, it evokes myriad emotions in the viewer and it is particularly poignant because of all the commemorations that have begun to mark this chapter in European history.
“We knew this was a very special painting as soon as we saw it and we are thrilled to bring it to the attention of people in the Exeter area.”
Bob added: “Inspiration can be quite unfathomable, sometimes profound sometimes disturbing but as an artist always needed.”
