Approaching winter, HMAS Condamine

This work demonstrates Norton's ability to accurately render detail and communicate his first hand experiences of being an official war artist during the Korean war. The wet, shiny metal deck of the cruiser speaks of cold, uncomfortable weather. Crew members huddle in groups, trying to stay out of the wind lifting off the turbulant seas. Norton would have completed this sketch on the deck, paying special attention to the detail of the rigging and the activities of the men. The long narrow gun barrel that points towards the islands indicates that the ship is prepared for battle. While only a small portion of the ship has been depicted, it fills over half of the picture plane; nevertheless, there is a sense of a threatening presence beyond the picture that may endanger the boat and crew. The lifeboat that hangs over the edge of the deck looks almost foolishly small when compared to the power of the sea beneath.