There are a number of iconic propaganda images from the two World Wars. Some of the images held in exhibitions for the Soviet Union and from Hitler’s reign show an incredibly aggressive mentality. The posters were a call to action for men and women to join the fight, so their respective nations could dominate the world and their enemies. The UK propaganda images are slightly less aggressive, obviously they call for action, for young men and women to stand tall and fight for their country, but they also call for people to stay strong, to be wary and to do all they can for the good of the country. It is this different stance that means that we in the UK look back on these iconic images with affection. We understand that images helped to unite a nation, we kept calm and we carried on, despite all that surrounded us, despite being a small island nation. These posters, with their simple yet effective wording, are now a symbol of our nation’s strength and although it may appear when they are hung as photos to canvas prints in living rooms that we see them as merely a piece of decorative art, they are much more than that, they are a celebration of our forefathers.
The posters were mass-produced and so for speed of production, along with cost, colours were kept to a minimum, printing techniques were simplified to ensure the government could get the posters in all public places. The images are attention grabbing, incredibly simple yet effective. Strong lines, solid colour blocks and short, abrupt messages with a clever undertone of calm, war time posters are a form of art in their own right and ultimately this is why they have stood the test of time and are now commonplace in homes up and down the country.
These designs are a symbol of a nation’s resilience and determination. The images, some of which are over 70 years old, obviously have a different meaning for us nowadays, they can almost be considered humorous, ‘The Walls Have Ears’ is a relatively amusing concept, but they offer a poignant reminder of what so many people sacrificed for us. These propaganda posters are a celebration of all things good about Britain and as London 2012 beckons, along with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations these classic designs can be displayed in living rooms and workplaces as photos to canvas prints. They are a celebration of our nation and a poignant reminder to those that lost their lives, they are also great pieces of design.
YourImage2Canvas are a canvas printing company based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. They are a family-run business looking forward to the Diamond Jubilee and printing your photos to canvas .