Fougasse was art editor of the magazine Punch when World War Two broke out in 1939, and he offered his services free to the British Government. He produced propaganda material for almost every ministry, and his gossiping cartoon characters injected welcome humour into propaganda posters in February 1940. Their popularity set a new tone for official mass communication. Despite an extended and illustrious career as a cartoonist, illustrator and commercial poster designer, it is probably for his 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' posters, issued by the Ministry of Information for display in public transport, that he is best known. Fougasse used the caption of this poster as the title of his BBC radio talk about the dangers of gossip. He tried to convey the concept that in no place was it safe to talk on any subject that related to the War and Britain's part in it, and that any information, once divulged, was beyond control, posing a risk to the nation's security. The humour here derives from the incongruity of the disguise worn by Adolf Hitler, the hated Nazi German leader.
Physical description
'...strictly between these four walls!'; Portrait format poster printed in colours on a white ground. Two gentlemen chatting at their club while above Hitler eavesdrops through a hole cut in a framed painting of a figure in 18th-century costume. Captioned below the illustration in script, then in larger letters at bottom of sheet 'Careless Talk Costs Lives'. The whole in a red line border; Colour lithograph print.
Place of Origin
UK (published)
Date
1940 (published)
Artist/maker
Fougasse, born 1887 - died 1965 (artist)
Ministry of Information (publisher)
Materials and Techniques
Colour lithograph on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Fougasse
Dimensions
Height: 30.5 cm sheet, Width: 20.3 cm sheet
Descriptive line
'...strictly between these four walls!'; Design by 'Fougasse' (Cyril Kenneth Bird); One of the series of 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' posters issued by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War; Great Britain; 1940.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'BIRD, Cyril Kenneth (“FOUGASSE”) (1887-1965)
...
Careless Talk Costs Lives. Series of posters issued by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War, for display in public conveyances. c.1940 S CPL Each 30.5 x 20.3 cm
E.2167-2174-1946
Don’t forget that walls have ears.
E.2167-1946 fiche 4/C12
“… but for Heaven’s sake don’t say I told you!”.
E.2168-1946 fiche 4/C12
“Of course there’s no harm in your knowing”.
E.2169-1946 fiche 4/C12
“Strictly between you & me …”.
E.2170-1946 fiche 4/C12
“ … strictly between these four walls!”.
E.2171-1946 fiche 4/D1
Be careful what you say & where you say it.
E.2172-1946 fiche 4/D1
“… but of course it musn’t go any further!”.
E.2173-1946 fiche 4/D1
You never know who’s listening!
E.2174- fiche 4/D1'
Production Note
One of a set of eight images on the theme 'Careless Talk Costs Lives'.
Reason For Production: Commission
Materials
Paper; Colour printing ink
Techniques
Colour lithography
Subjects depicted
War; Propaganda; Politics; Paintings; Hitler, Adolf; Armchairs; Spies; Spying; Gemtlemen's clubs
Categories
Prints; Caricatures & Cartoons; Politics; Propaganda; Posters
Production Type
Mass produced
Collection code
PDP
