The Black-Out, 1942 (oil on panel)

Creator: Spear, Ruskin (1911-90) A London street at night during the blackout, showing civilians, military personnel and shops, while a bus passes on the right, London, 1941. Two searchlight beams cross over in the sky above. Ruskin Spear was one of over 300 British official war artists commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee, who depicted factories and London life during the Blitz. A retrospective of his work was held at the Royal Academy in 1980 and his paintings are held at Tate Gallery, Arts Council, National Portrait Gallery and Imperial War Museums.