E. J. Hughes: Canadian War Artist - by Robert Amos (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this, the third volume of an award-winning series on artist E. J. Hughes (1913-2007), Robert Amos turns his focus to Hughes's service in the Second World War. The narrative begins with Hughes's cadet days with the Seaforth Highlanders in Vancouver, followed by his enlistment at the Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt in 1939. Named the first "service artist" in 1941, he spent two winters in Ottawa before being posted to London where he was attached to different regiments in England and Wales. His paintings of camp life and convoys reflect his keen attention to the details of vehicles, artillery, and uniforms. In 1943 on the Alaskan island of Kiska, he transformed sub-zero weather and howling gales into a powerful document of this remote theatre of war. He returned to Ottawa where he worked until 1946--Canada's first, last, and longest-serving War Artist of the Second World War. He was also the most prolific. The book features seventy artworks from the Canadian War Museum's holdings, expanded with many personal photos and sketches from the artist's papers. The narrative situates Hughes's wartime work within the broader context of his life and his development as an artist. With the care and knowledge of a fellow artist, Amos draws the reader into this important chapter in the life of E. J. Hughes and Canadian art."--

Book Synopsis

Gold Winner of a 2022 PubWest Book Design Award
Winner of the 2023 Basil Stuart Stubbs Book Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Book on British Columbia

"A penetrating study based on unique archival material and a deep analysis into hundreds of wartime works of art." --Tim Cook, author of The Fight for History: 75 Years of Forgetting, Remembering, and Remaking of Canada's Second World War

The third volume of this award-winning series showcases paintings and drawings E. J. Hughes created during the artist's war service in Ottawa, England, Wales, and Alaska.

In this, the third volume of an award-winning series on artist E. J. Hughes (1913-2007), Robert Amos turns his focus to Hughes's service in the Second World War.

The narrative begins with Hughes's cadet days with the Seaforth Highlanders in Vancouver, followed by his enlistment at the Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt in 1939. Named the first "service artist" in 1941, he spent two winters in Ottawa before being posted to London where he was attached to different regiments in England and Wales. His paintings of camp life and convoys reflect his keen attention to the details of vehicles, artillery, and uniforms. In 1943 on the Alaskan island of Kiska, he transformed sub-zero weather and howling gales into a powerful document of this remote theatre of war. He returned to Ottawa where he worked until 1946--Canada's first, last, and longest-serving War Artist of the Second World War. He was also the most prolific.

The book features seventy artworks from the Canadian War Museum's holdings, expanded with many personal photos and sketches from the artist's papers. The narrative situates Hughes's wartime work within the broader context of his life and his development as an artist. With the care and knowledge of a fellow artist, Amos draws the reader into this important chapter in the life of E. J. Hughes and Canadian art.

Review Quotes

"As an artist in uniform during the Second World War, E. J. Hughes created a profound legacy of war art for future generations to empathize, imagine, and re-imagine the Canadian military experience. In this definitive history of Hughes's contributions, Robert Amos offers a penetrating study based on unique archival material and a deep analysis into hundreds of wartime works of art. The war shaped Hughes, leading to period of great creativity that propelled him forward to become one of Canada's most recognized west coast artists." --Tim Cook, The Fight for History: 75 Years of Forgetting, Remembering, and Remaking of Canada's Second World War

"Amos guides readers on an incredible visual journey into Hughes' wartime experiences . . . the stunning images inside make the volume a wonderful coffee table book for any military history enthusiast or admirer of Canadiana art." --Canadian Military History

A fascinating combination of art, memoir, and history as seen through the eyes of the artist . . . immensely captivating." --PubWest Book Design Award judges panel

"Amos' book deepens our appreciation for Hughes' craft and enriches our understanding of Hughes' vision during a critical time in history." --Dr. Susan E. Parker, UBC's University Librarian

"Rich in detail and imagery, including many meticulous field sketches." --Galleries West

"The latest in Canadian publisher TouchWood Editions' award-winning series showcases the Canadian landscape painter's time as a prolific war artist during the Second World War." --Zoomer

"The third volume in an award-winning series, the book features 70 artworks from the Canadian War Museum's holdings--many of them depicting convoys, artillery, and camp life--as well as personal photos and sketches from the Hughes's records." --Stir