Nevinson (1889-1946) was made an official war artist in 1917, and claims to have been the first artist to have painted while in the air. He frequently made printed images after paintings, but in this case the lithograph came first, made for the portfolio published by the Ministry of Information to commemorate British valour during the World War One. His excitement at being airborne is brilliantly evoked through the rich dark tones of strong, tilting diagonals and the circular movement of the propeller, contrasting with the misty patchwork of fields far below. The subject-matter tied in very closely with his interest in the contemporary Italian Futurist movement, which celebrated progressive technology, notably the aeroplane and the motor-car.