¿Que Fais-Tu Pour Empêcher Cela? thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MB3G, Shelf DR5

¿Que Fais-Tu Pour Empêcher Cela?

Poster
1936-1937 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Spanish Civil War poster was issued by the Ministry for Propaganda for distribution in France and perhaps French-speaking territories. At this stage in the conflict, the Nationalist rebels were receiving military aid from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy that was not only crushing the Republican loyalists, but killing and injuring many innocent civilians as well. The Spanish Republic was further disadvantaged by U.S., British and French embargoes. This poster appeals to the conscience of the French by showing what appears to be a terrorised mother and child with a bombed-out apartment building in the background. It implores "What are you doing to stop this?"

The original photograph of the women and child was infact taken at the funeral of the Spanish Anarchist, Buenaventura Durruti on November 22, 1936 by an unknown photographer. It depicts crowds of mourners all saluting with their arms raised and clenched fists. The designer of this poster cut out the figures of the woman and child, using them in this different context to create a powerful image.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • ¿Que Fais-Tu Pour Empêcher Cela? (assigned by artist)
  • What are you doing to prevent this? (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour photo lithograph, photomontage
Brief description
"¿Que Fais-tu Pour Empêcher Cela?" French language poster issued by Ministerio de Propaganda during Spanish Civil War. Spain, 1936-1937.
Physical description
Spanish Civil War propaganda poster showing a woman and child terrorised by overhead bombers. An apartment building stands destroyed in the background, left.
Dimensions
  • Height: 79cm
  • Width: 56cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • ¿Que Fais-Tu Pour/ Empêcher/ Cela?
    Translation
    What are you doing to prevent this?
  • M A D R I D
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
This Spanish Civil War poster was issued by the Ministry for Propaganda for distribution in France and perhaps French-speaking territories. At this stage in the conflict, the Nationalist rebels were receiving military aid from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy that was not only crushing the Republican loyalists, but killing and injuring many innocent civilians as well. The Spanish Republic was further disadvantaged by U.S., British and French embargoes. This poster appeals to the conscience of the French by showing what appears to be a terrorised mother and child with a bombed-out apartment building in the background. It implores "What are you doing to stop this?"

The original photograph of the women and child was infact taken at the funeral of the Spanish Anarchist, Buenaventura Durruti on November 22, 1936 by an unknown photographer. It depicts crowds of mourners all saluting with their arms raised and clenched fists. The designer of this poster cut out the figures of the woman and child, using them in this different context to create a powerful image.
Bibliographic reference
The Palette and the Flame: Posters of the Spanish Civil War. John Tisa, editor. New York: International Publishers. 1979.
Other number
LS.616 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.171-2004

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Record createdJuly 22, 2005
Record URL
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