John Armstrong, 1893-1973

A larger version of the present work was exhibited at the Royal Academy's John Armstrong Retrospective in 1975 (no.105, 49.5x73.5cm).
The Battle of Nothing is from a series of 'Battle' paintings Armstrong executed after the Second World War and in the early 50s such as The Battle of Religion and The Battle of Propaganda.  Armstrong had become increasingly interested in Symbolism and the series represented the coming together of all his ideas and explorations on the principal themes that had interested him throughout his life; religion, politics, theatre and mythology.  Refering to the figures in the present work, the artist explained in the foreword to his 1951 Lefevre Gallery Exhibition that 'the clown gives us an excuse for full draperies and the varied colours and patterns of the circus. He is, as well, the image of frustration, fighting battles of nothing, attempting a leap forward but doing a back-ward somersault instead'.