Not currently on display at the V&A

VOTER c'est mourir un peu

Poster
1968 (Designed and printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster proclaims the disillusionment young Parisian students felt towards voting as a means of positive political and social change. The ballot box is depicted as a coffin. The Lorraine Cross on the coffin lid once represented freedom in France: it was used by General de Gaulle as a symbol of hope during the Resistance movement of World War II. The cross is subverted to represent the failures of De Gaulle's government. The underlying message alleges that the electoral process has failed the French people.The students were pushing for revolutionary change brought about by protest and demonstrations.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleVOTER c'est mourir un peu (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Lithograph
Brief description
"Voter c'est mourir un peu", anonymous student poster mocking the usefulness of voting by depicting a ballot box-cum-coffin, France, 1968
Physical description
Text above and below central image of a coffin cum ballot box inscribed with the Lorraine Cross.
Dimensions
  • Height: 65cm
  • Width: 50.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
VOTER/ c'est/ MOURIR/ UN PEU
Translation
from the French: Voting is to die a little
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
Production
made by protesting students, possibly in conjuction with the Atelier Populaire
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This poster proclaims the disillusionment young Parisian students felt towards voting as a means of positive political and social change. The ballot box is depicted as a coffin. The Lorraine Cross on the coffin lid once represented freedom in France: it was used by General de Gaulle as a symbol of hope during the Resistance movement of World War II. The cross is subverted to represent the failures of De Gaulle's government. The underlying message alleges that the electoral process has failed the French people.The students were pushing for revolutionary change brought about by protest and demonstrations.
Other number
LS.1366 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.668-2004

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Record createdAugust 13, 2004
Record URL
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