Drawing Hell: The Life of War Artist - Alan Moore

by J P Morthen

"From the sweltering battlefields of the South Pacific to the devastated cities of Europe, Alan Moore witnessed the greatest war in human history—not with a rifle, but with a paintbrush."

As an official war artist with the RAAF, Moore was sent deep into the action, capturing history as it unfolded. He documented the brutal Japanese counterattack at Los Negros Island, the perilous missions of airmen dodging flak over Eastern Europe, and the harrowing reality inside one of Nazi Germany’s most infamous concentration camps. With his camera, sketchbook, and oil paints, he recorded not just battles, but the human cost of war—the exhaustion, the fear, the destruction, and the small moments of resilience that defined a generation.

Yet despite his remarkable body of work, Alan Moore remains one of Australia’s forgotten artists. His paintings, raw and unfiltered, serve as powerful reminders of the horrors of war, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who served are never lost to history. Through meticulous research and rare archival materials, Drawing Hell unearths the story of a man whose work still hangs in some of the world’s most prestigious museums and galleries.

Moore’s life spanned a century of conflict, change, and artistic evolution, yet his story has remained largely untold—until now. In this gripping account, historian John Morthen brings Moore’s legacy back into the spotlight, revealing how his art shaped the way we remember war.

For those who believe history should never be forgotten, Drawing Hell is an essential read.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[Tigereno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as a physical book. Starting out simply as a biography, it wasn't until the wartime that the story got interesting. This book definitely focused on the "war" aspect which made up the majority of the book. I'm glad we had people like Alan documenting the rawness and atrocities that come with war. The documentation of WW1 was mostly polished or highly controlled to put everyone in a good light. When WW2 came around they wanted more honesty and every day imagery and they certainly got that from Alan. I enjoyed the pictures in the middle, as well as the stories from the two ladies from Belsen. Alan fought to get the atrocities recognised and I'm glad he got to see that before he passed. I feel this book could have been longer.

[Peter Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant topic! Another great WW2 story, amazing to those of us who have never endured anything like it. Once the narrative of Alan Moore's service and wartime experiences begin, the author really hits his stride. Morthen left me wanting more - in particular, to learn more about the art. Perhaps he could expand on this beginning in another book?