He left behind him a wealth of acclaimed artistic work and a significant contribution to the canon of book illustration. In the foreground, two women in factory overalls give a friendly acknowledgement to a passing man, exemplifying a common theme of Ardizzone’s work - his observations of relations between men and women.

The commission was to become the first of the many illustrated texts for which he would be best known, excitedly completed after having lived and dreamt that book for three whole months. Born in 1900, at Haiphong, Tonking, Indo-China, to Italian and Scottish parents, Ardizzone came to England when he was five.His early experiences between Arras and Boulogne are illustrated and described in his book Baggage to the Enemy (London 1941), while Diary of a War Artist, published in 1974, described his later experiences during the conflict. Privately he continued to paint, mainly with oils, and to study the works of the great masters, Cézanne, Matisse and Picasso in particular. There were 99 commendations of both kinds in 44 years, including Ardizzone and Gerald Rose when the distinction was inaugurated for 1959.

Ardizzone always maintained that the art of a children’s book illustrator was particularly good when it was created as much for the child within the illustrator, as for the child viewing the illustrations. During the 1930s he was best known for his illustrations in the Radio Times and in children’s books, so was perhaps a surprising choice as official war artist. He continued to travel around, reaching Rimini at the time of its fall and going on to visit Forli, Cesena, Riccione, Rome, Florence and Ravenna. However, in March 1944, the Admiralty asked the WAAC if they could have him ‘on loan’ from the War Office.By this time, the WAAC had collected almost 400 of his works, a number exceeded by only one other artist, Anthony Gross.

An artist and illustrator of consummate draughtsmanship, Edward Ardizzone's many book illustrations are recognised all over the world. The cheery tone shows great affection for the elder men: here their gaze towards the younger woman passer-by is intended as a reassuring sign that all is at it should be. Sasek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, November 1916, to parents who generally discouraged his early interest in drawing and painting and pushed him instead into training as an architect. He sketched these at the scene, unlike his overseas drawings, which were sourced from notes and memory as he generally felt uncomfortable drawing in public. Attached to the Eighth Army, he adapted extremely well to military life and made many friends especially among war correspondents, enabling him access to transport and networks that he required.When Ardizzone was just four or five years old his mother brought him and two siblings to Suffolk to be looked after by their grandmother so that she and her husband could remain in the Far East.