Merry-Go-Round (Gertler painting)

A letter written by Gertler's friend D. H. Lawrence in September 1915 mentions wounded soldiers in uniforms enjoying the rowdy entertainment at the fair.

Expanding on the theme of war, the painting may represent the threefold colours of wholeness and balance in our Thinking, Feeling and Willing – within a human being.

The four sets of people too suggest the balance between the masculine and feminine aspects within us; whilst the individual sailor is presented as the true unknown, unseen and rather elusive higher self.

Merry-Go-Round inspired a scene in Joan Littlewood's 1963 stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War!, and in the 1969 film adaptation directed by Richard Attenborough.

[2] A cast-iron roundel (or mock coal hole cover) depicting a detail from Merry-Go-Round is set into the pavement in front of Gertler's former home and studio at 32 Elder Street, Spitalfields, London.