Painted in 1940, The Looters is a masterpiece from the period. Exhibited at ‘The Political Paintings of Merlyn Evans’ at the Tate Gallery in 1985, it was described as being inspired by the Italian occupation of Abyssinia but as with all such works by Evans, it is not meant as a depiction of a specific event but rather as a profound indictment of war and injustice.

From today's viewpoint, the painting is a startlingly modern image, and as a statement, as powerful as when it was painted over 80 years ago. In "The Looters," Evans presents a scene of destruction and disorder, with figures scavenging through the ruins of a bombed-out city. The composition is dynamic and chaotic, with broken buildings and rubble strewn across the landscape, conveying a sense of devastation and desolation.

The figures in the painting are depicted with a sense of urgency and desperation, as they search for valuables amidst the wreckage. Their faces are twisted in anguish or determination, reflecting the harsh realities of war and its impact on ordinary people. Evans' brushwork is bold and gestural, capturing the energy and movement of the scene with a raw and visceral intensity. His use of colour is equally dramatic, with dark, somber tones dominating the palette, adding to the sense of gloom and despair.