| Accession Number | ART40948 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 16.2 x 18.2 x 10.6 cm |
| Object type | Sculpture |
| Physical description | metal, cotton and wood, covered with paper, with pen and ink and watercolour and pencil |
| Maker |
Blaiberg, Gladys |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | c. 1917-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: External copyright |
The Woodbine cannot grasp it but "Digger" can
Description
This sculpture shows a group of three servicemen in uniform; one a British officer, nicknamed "Woodbine" because this is the tobacco he would have smoked, who is unable to comprehend the bond of friendship between an Australian officer and soldier, who shake hands on the right. "Gladys" injects humour through her caption, a pun on the high-ranking British officer literally not being able to grasp the hand of a lower-ranked Australian soldier because of "Woodbine's" inability to comprehend the bond between the other two servicemen regardless of rank and authority. The Australian soldier keeps one hand in his pocket while he shakes with his other, a further nod to the Australian sensibility - one of casual respect for fellow countrymen.