An online educational resource which aims to develop students’ understanding of wartime artworks. This activity features The Sock Knitter, painted in 1915 by Grace Cossington Smith, an Australian artist. The artwork depicts a dutiful daughter knitting socks for the war effort in World War I. Use the background context and inquiry questions to encourage student research and learning.
Grace Cossington Smith (Australia, b.1892, d.1984) The Sock Knitter (1915) oil on canvas, 61.8 x 51.2 x 1.7cm Art Gallery of New South Wales Purchased 1960 © Estate of Grace Cossington Smith Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter OA18.1960
During the First World War, Australian women at home engaged in many activities designed to support the troops fighting overseas. Those activities were as diverse as packing Red Cross parcels for the frontline troops, making uniforms, or hosting soldiers who were convalescing after being wounded in battle.
The Sock Knitter was created in 1915 by Grace Cossington Smith AO OBE, an Australian artist who painted in what became known as the ‘post-impressionist’ style. She has depicted her sister Madge who is knitting socks for soldiers serving on the frontline overseas. On the surface, the painting might be of a woman sitting and knitting. However, it tells us a good deal about the circumstances relating to her and the period in which she lived. The questions and activities below will help in analysing and understanding the image.
Inquiry questions
- Look carefully at the painting and describe what you see. Include all the details of the painting, even if you think they might not be significant. Keep in mind what you don’t see in the painting, as often things left out can be as significant as things that are visible.
- Is the painting a primary or secondary source of historical information? What might have motivated Grace Cossington Smith to create the painting? What does the painting tell us about Madge, her sister?
- The opening paragraph of this page lists some of the ways in which Australian women at home supported troops overseas during the First World War. Women have undertaken many important roles on the home front during various wars and conflicts. What other jobs or activities have Australian women carried out to support troops in times of war? The books Australian Women in War and Patriotism: Stories from the home front during the Second World War might be particularly helpful.
- Imagine you are an Australian soldier serving overseas during the First World War. You receive a pair of knitted socks as part of a Red Cross parcel. How would you feel about receiving the socks? What would it do to your morale, knowing that people on the home front are supporting you?
- Australians like to support our service men and women currently on overseas duty. Examples might be through a craft, like knitting, or it might be something that uses current technology, such as email or in real time using online social media. Discuss these ideas with your class. Create an artwork that shows how we support our service personnel serving overseas. Your artwork could be a drawing, a painting, mixed media, or created using digital technologies. Discuss the artworks created by the class; look for similarities and differences in the artworks and consider why those similarities and differences exist.
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
