War artist Tom Wood's canvas explores a corvette's crowded mess deck, where much of the ship's crew lived.

Wood's painting likely depicts HMCS North Bay in harbour, since an open inkwell (bottom centre) and drink bottle (right) would have been ill-advised in a rolling ship at sea. Usually damp, the mess deck could be awash in seawater during rough weather. Off-duty sailors attempted to eat, relax, write letters, or read. The mess deck was also a sleeping area, and occupied hammocks are visible at the top of the work.

Corvette Mess Deck, His Majesty's Canadian Ship North Bay
Painted by Tom Wood in 1946
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-4854