Souvenons nous toujours
Poster
ca. 1940 (made)
ca. 1940 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Mers-el-Kébir and Dakar were French colonial naval bases in North and West Africa, respectively. After the fall of France, Winston Churchill controversially ordered bombardment of Mers-el-Kébir (July 1940) to prevent the French navy from falling into German hands. Around 1,200 French sailors died, turning public opinion in France vehemently against Britain - something Hitler was quick to exploit. At Dakar (September 1940) Charles de Gaulle joined a similar operation hoping, but failing, to rally the port to the cause of the Free French. The text-only format has a stark impact. The two place names need no elaboration to arouse feelings of horror and outrage. The design causes the viewer to think immediately of bloodshed.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Titles |
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Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph |
Brief description | Souvenons nous toujours [Let us always remember] French Second World War poster, ca. 1940 |
Physical description | French cursive type printed in blue ["Souvenons nous/ toujours"] with red block lettering above ["DAKAR"] and below ["MERS-EL-KÉBIR"], suggesting blood. This text is framed in blue, white and red, the colours of the French tricolour flag. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | 'Souvenons nous / toujours' (printed in blue)
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Credit line | Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko |
Subjects depicted | |
Places depicted | |
Summary | Mers-el-Kébir and Dakar were French colonial naval bases in North and West Africa, respectively. After the fall of France, Winston Churchill controversially ordered bombardment of Mers-el-Kébir (July 1940) to prevent the French navy from falling into German hands. Around 1,200 French sailors died, turning public opinion in France vehemently against Britain - something Hitler was quick to exploit. At Dakar (September 1940) Charles de Gaulle joined a similar operation hoping, but failing, to rally the port to the cause of the Free French. The text-only format has a stark impact. The two place names need no elaboration to arouse feelings of horror and outrage. The design causes the viewer to think immediately of bloodshed. |
Other number | LS.1655 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.1297-2004 |
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Record created | June 15, 2004 |
Record URL |
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