Women - There's work to be done and a war to be won... Now! thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case Y, Shelf 65, Box E

Women - There's work to be done and a war to be won... Now!

Poster
1944 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster uses a technique of persuasion rather than command to reach its target audience. Through a light-hearted cartoon style, women's war work is presented as fun, with a variety of tasks being carried out in a non-aggressive, domestic manner. The keyword is cleverly incorporated within the whole design. Vernon Grant was a popular children's artist and the creator of the Kellogg's cereal characters 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWomen - There's work to be done and a war to be won... Now! (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithography
Brief description
Second World War poster recruiting women into war work, issued by the War Manpower Commission and the Office of War Information, USA,1944
Physical description
Poster showing cartoon representations of eleven women working in various capacities for the war effort. Much of their 'work' is devoted to red block letters that spell out "WOMEN". One figure is a nurse, placing a blanket over the top of the letter 'O', another stands atop the 'W' taking notes on a clip board. Two mechanics work on an army jeep in the forground. Three of the workers are shown respectively carrying metal, riveting and hammering. Much of the composition is arranged on a diagonal axis. Near the upper right, other figures perform more traditional gender roles of sewing, serving and cleaning. Text: 'There's work to be done and a war to be won...Now!"
Marks and inscriptions
  • WOMEN (printed in red block capital letters on the diagonal across the centre of the poster)
  • There's work to be done/ and a war to be won... (printed in black)
  • NOW! (printed in red)
  • See your U.S. Employment Service/ War Manpower Commission (printed in white on brown)
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
Place depicted
Summary
This poster uses a technique of persuasion rather than command to reach its target audience. Through a light-hearted cartoon style, women's war work is presented as fun, with a variety of tasks being carried out in a non-aggressive, domestic manner. The keyword is cleverly incorporated within the whole design. Vernon Grant was a popular children's artist and the creator of the Kellogg's cereal characters 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'.
Other number
LS.2433 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.856-2004

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 23, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest