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Careless Talk Costs Lives
Fougasse, born 1887 - died 1965 - Enlarge image
Careless Talk Costs Lives
- Object:
Poster
- Place of origin:
United Kingdom (made)
- Date:
1940 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Fougasse, born 1887 - died 1965 (artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
Colour lithograph
- 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
- Museum number:
E.1558-2004
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case 1B, box LS3
Fougasse, whose real name was Cyril Kenneth Bird, was a well-known cartoonist and editor of the magazine Punch when war broke out. He convinced the Government to use humour for wartime propaganda and offered his services free. He believed the sharing of a joke enabled a poster to persuade without causing resentment by appearing to preach. Fougasse designed a series of eight posters for the Careless Talk Cost Lives campaign. They were produced in a variety of formats both for indoor and outdoor display, and proved so popular that they were even reproduced on textiles.
