The Little Green Fields - Gerard Dillon (1945) - What is the artist's real objective through this painting?

Extract

[...] We may also interpret that connection as the symbol of Ireland's historical neutrality within the Second World War. This way, the calm of the scene appears as shocking as contrasting. It also refers to the remoted traditional position of Ireland and the Irish. Some character expressively turns his back to the viewer. And if the man wearing a beret in the center of the painting symbolizes a fixed image of the Irish farming culture focused on its traditions and in heritage, it also conveys the negative image of a frozen country, whose habits and quiet daily actions seem to be out of time while a purposedly contrast has been created with the detached and honored dead on the picture. [...]

[...] If we consider then the treatment chosen for the painting, we need to stand that the whole drawing and the main lines are all very naive. The whole atmosphere generates harmony and peacefulness. If the characters are well implemented into a present time, with their rural clothes including a probable cotton or velvet jacket and scarf, they also perfectly embody a part of tradition. Dillon's work here focuses on the traditional image of the Irish countryside by the middle of the twentieth century. Even the choice of colors which deals with light yellow balanced with other bright colors refers to a peaceful and joyful atmosphere. [...]

[...] But contrary to the previous Art movement of the nineteenth century in which realism was the first aim, we have to deal with archetypes and mostly symbolism. Indeed, the artist's intention here is not to fully depict a common Irish scene. The objective seems to go beyond. As many Irish artists' works, by the early decades of the twentieth century, banned by a traditional Irish society, Dillon seems to here have brought a new way to represent a seemingly naive purpose while offering to put a critical look into this society. [...]

[...] However, Dillon succeeds at the same into conveying a positive picture of Irish identity forged and faithful to its deep traditions. We can't help drawing some comparisons with the work of George Mac Cullough, whose paintings alike are more expressive than representative. More Irish painters of the period did travel frequently to London to perform and got back to depict and offer a personal vision of their beloved Irish country. At that point, we may consider this work as well as many works of the period as « love letters » dedicated to the soul of their country. [...]

[...] The Little Green Fields - Gerard Dillon (1945) - What is the artist's real objective through this painting? "To be Irish is to know that in the end the world will break your heart." This saying of the modern Irish artist Daniel Patrick Moynihan could perfectly match the feeling of Gerard Dillon's The Little Green Fields painted in 1945 and depicting a peaceful typical Irish countryside atmosphere. Taking the date of creation into consideration, a great and seizing contrast can then be operated between the scene portrayed and the subjective idea of deep turmoil of the period, especially in the close Europe. [...]