Anniversary Print: From the People Who Brought You Thalidomide...
Print
1978 (printed)
1978 (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Conrad Atkinson's work frequently reflects the manipulation and abuse of ordinary working people by those in positions of power. The drug Thalidomide was responsible for the irreversible deformity of limbs and organs in unborn babies conceived between 1959 and 1961. Almost 20 years later some victims were still fighting for compensation from the manufacturers, The Distillers Company, whose profits were soaring. The Company possessed a royal warrant, which meant it could display a coat of arms on its products that advertised the fact that the royal family patronised it. The Queen Mother was Chancellor of University College, London. Atkinson was commissioned to produce a print for a portfolio to be presented to her on the occasion of the College's 150th Anniversary. He took this as an opportunity to expose the behaviour of the Company.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Anniversary Print: From the People Who Brought You Thalidomide... (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Colour offset lithograph on paper, with hand colouring |
Brief description | Anniversary Print. A children's story; for H.M. by Conrad Atkinson. Colour offset lithograph with additional colouring by hand. 1978 |
Physical description | colour offset lithographic print on paper, with additional colouring by hand |
Dimensions |
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Styles | |
Production type | Limited edition |
Copy number | 46/50 |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Production | The print was commissioned by the Slade School of art for an portfolio celebrating the 150th anniversary of University College, London, and to be presented to its then chancellor HRH The Queen Mother. |
Subjects depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Summary | Conrad Atkinson's work frequently reflects the manipulation and abuse of ordinary working people by those in positions of power. The drug Thalidomide was responsible for the irreversible deformity of limbs and organs in unborn babies conceived between 1959 and 1961. Almost 20 years later some victims were still fighting for compensation from the manufacturers, The Distillers Company, whose profits were soaring. The Company possessed a royal warrant, which meant it could display a coat of arms on its products that advertised the fact that the royal family patronised it. The Queen Mother was Chancellor of University College, London. Atkinson was commissioned to produce a print for a portfolio to be presented to her on the occasion of the College's 150th Anniversary. He took this as an opportunity to expose the behaviour of the Company. |
Bibliographic reference | Timmers, Margaret (ed), Impressions of the Twentieth Century: Fine Art Prints from the V&A's Collection, London, V&A Publications, 2001
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Collection | |
Accession number | E.1223-1979 |
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Record created | December 5, 2002 |
Record URL |
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