Study of a Greek Soldier

Illustration for the wartime publication 'The Australian Soldier - A Portrait'. Depicts a fully uniformed Greek soldier standing with his hands in his pockets.

'Study of a Greek Soldier' captures a soldier in side profile gazing off into the distance. The loose link work and use of shadow emphasizes the strong physique of the soldier whose uniform billows out around his arms and thighs.

In 1944 Russell Drysdale was commissioned to illustrate the wartime publication 'The Australian Soldier - A Portrait' by John Hetherington. Based on the experience of the Sixth Division of the Australian Imperial Forces, the book is an account of the soldiers' experience fighting against the Italians in Libya and later the Germans in Greece. Drysdale produced many illustrations for the publication and revised his selection as he progressed. This drawing was not included in the final selection, yet is representative of the style and execution of those that were. As there Greek soldiers were not in Australia at this time, it was most likely created from a photograph.