About this artwork

This photograph was taken on McCullin’s first international assignment where he had been sent by the Observer newspaper to cover the civil war in Cyprus. Taken in Limassol in the middle of a gun battle, it depicts a Turkish gunman emerging from the side of a cinema, gun poised, ready for attack. McCullin uses a sharp contrast of light and dark tones, as demonstrated by the gunman’s shadow which is sharply defined on the wall. This creates a dramatic effect and displays his skill at capturing the decisive moment. He was the only photojournalist present at this particular incident and felt a strong responsibility to record what was happening and convey it to the world.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Don McCullin (born 1935) English
  • title:
    The Cyprus Civil War, Limassol, Cyprus
  • date created:
    1964; printed 2013
  • materials:
    Gelatin silver print on paper
  • measurements:
    27.50 x 40.50 cm (framed: 49.50 x 62.00 cm)
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Purchased with the assistance of the ARTIST ROOMS Fund, supported by the Henry Moore Foundation and Tate Members 2013
  • accession number:
    AR01182
  • gallery:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Don McCullin

Don McCullin