Northern Ireland, The Bogside, Londonderry
- Artist: Sir Don McCullin CBE
- Date: 1971, printed 2013
- Medium: Photograph, gelatin silver print on paper
- Dimensions: image: 285 x 420 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Northern Ireland, The Bogside, Londonderry” by Sir Don McCullin CBE. The image, a gelatin‑silver print from 1971 that was reprinted in 2013, captures a tense moment on the streets of Derry during the Troubles. McCullin, a veteran war photographer, was on the scene when the British Army’s presence was heightened after the Battle of the Bogside in 1969. The black‑and‑white frame shows a narrow street, a rifle‑held soldier in uniform, and civilians holding up their hands – a stark visual reminder of the violence that gripped Northern Ireland.
McCullin’s work is famous for its unflinching documentation of conflict, and this photograph is no exception. It balances the immediacy of a live moment with a compositional sense that draws you into the drama of that day. Notice how the light falls across the building façades, giving depth to the scene and emphasizing the stark contrast between the soldiers and the civilians. The detail of a helmet and a rifle creates a focal point that forces the viewer to confront the reality of war’s proximity to everyday life.
Overall, the image is a powerful document of a specific historical moment, rendered with McCullin’s signature clarity and emotional immediacy. It reminds us that art can capture the pulse of history, one frame at a time.
See it in person
Northern Ireland, The Bogside, Londonderry is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
