"Bethune", acrylic and collage on canvas, 36"x 36", 2008

I thoroughly enjoyed painting this portrait of the famous Canadian doctor, Norman Bethune. I had been invited to take part in a tribute exhibition with other artists from both Canada and China. For those not familiar with Norman Bethune I have provided a brief history below.

A complicated character, thought by some as arrogant ,Bethune was an artist and supporter of artists, a committed anti-fascist, and a pioneer of socialized medicine in Canada. He served in World War 1 as a stretcher bearer and also in the Navy and Air Force. He became a Doctor after the war and was greatly moved by the plight of those who could not afford private medical treatment during the great depression. He was a leader in the treatment of tuberculosis and also designed many of his own surgical instruments, some of which are still in use today.

As the forces of fascism began to rise in the early 1930's and the stage was set for global conflict once more, Bethune joined those who chose to stand and appose. When Franco's Fascist forces backed by Hitler and Mussolini attacked the democratically elected Republican Government of Spain in 1936 Bethune joined the thousands of internationalists from around the globe who aided the Spanish people. He set up a mobile blood transfusion unit (a first of its kind) which saved countless lives. He was greatly effected by his experiences in Spain and was openly critical of all the countries who stood by and did nothing.

Bethune then took his experience and energy to China to aid the Chinese in their war against the invading fascist forces of Japan. There he gained the respect and admiration of the Chinese people by living in the harshest of conditions, giving his own blood for transfusion, training many Doctors, nurses, and Orderlies, and performing heroic marathon surgeries where he treated many dozens without sleep. In November of 1939, while operating without gloves on a wounded soldier, Bethune accidently cut himself, contracted blood poisining (septicemia) and died at the age of 49.