Lot 1: Edward John (E.J.) Hughes 1913 - 2007 Canadian

Edward John (E.J.) Hughes 1913 - 2007 Canadian graphite on card Patrol on Kiska in 1943 19 7/8 x 23 1/4 inches 50.5 x 59 centimeters signed and dated 1944 and on verso titled and titled on the gallery label and inscribed ""Reverse lighting on figures"" Provenance:Dominion Gallery, Montreal Private Collection, Montreal As an official war artist during World War II, E.J. Hughes was posted to Kiska, Alaska from 1943 to 1944. Characteristic of Hughes's meticulous attention to detail, here he depicts a group of soldiers with their distinctive gear, including the bowie knife task force arm patch denoting the Kiska Invasion Force - the joint US-Canadian force formed to retake Kiska from Japanese forces. Surprisingly, when the invasion force landed in August of 1943, they found the island abandoned; nevertheless, they established their base there. Canadian forces came primarily from the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 6th Canadian Infantry Division, but also included the Canadian componen of the First Special Service Force, also known as the Devil's Brigade, a commando unit. The men march through a striking and stark landscape, the deep snowdrifts indicative of the challenging winter environment. The work is full of light, with detail denoted by fine shading and tonal contrasts that create a strong sense of volume. Most of Hughes's war work is in the collection of the Canadian War Museum, making this fine cartoon drawing rare to the market. In their collection is Hughes's 1945 canvas from this drawing entitled Patrol, Kiska. The 1943 preliminary ink drawing for this cartoon entitled Sketch for Patrol, Kiska was donated in 2012 to the Canadian War Museum by David and Robert Heffel.