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Ideals: The Reconstruction of Belgium

Print
1917 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals was an ambitious project of artistic propaganda comprising sixty-six prints distributed by the British government in 1917. The aim was to stimulate public morale and support for the war effort.
Eighteen artists were commissioned, including Frank Brangwyn, Augustus John, Eric Kennington (an official war artist in both World Wars and sculptor of many war memorials), and C.R.W Nevinson. They were each assigned their subjects and had to work under strict censorship regulations.
Separated into two sets of portfolios titled ‘Ideals’ (12 prints) and ‘Efforts’ (54 prints) the former reinforced lofty goals such as The Triumph of Democracy, The Restoration of Serbia, and The Reconstruction of Belgium, while the latter illustrated key activities of the war effort such as munitions factories, women workers, training young soldiers, and agriculture in wartime.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Ideals: The Reconstruction of Belgium (assigned by artist)
  • The Great War: Britain's Efforts and Ideals (series title)
Materials and techniques
colour lithograph on paper
Brief description
'The Reconstruction of Belgium', plate from the series The Great War: Britain's Efforts and Ideals, colour lithograph, George Clausen, Britain, 1917
Physical description
Print depicting men rebuilding monuments in Belgium, with a crowd of men, women and children in the background. No. 2 in the section 'Ideals' in the print series The Great War: Britain's Efforts and Ideals, issued by the Ministry of Information.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26.875in (Note: taken from 1916-18 accession register)
  • Width: 17.125in (Note: taken from 1916-18 accession register)
Marks and inscriptions
G. Clausen 1917 (signed and dated)
Credit line
Given by the Ministry of Information
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Association
Summary
The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals was an ambitious project of artistic propaganda comprising sixty-six prints distributed by the British government in 1917. The aim was to stimulate public morale and support for the war effort.
Eighteen artists were commissioned, including Frank Brangwyn, Augustus John, Eric Kennington (an official war artist in both World Wars and sculptor of many war memorials), and C.R.W Nevinson. They were each assigned their subjects and had to work under strict censorship regulations.
Separated into two sets of portfolios titled ‘Ideals’ (12 prints) and ‘Efforts’ (54 prints) the former reinforced lofty goals such as The Triumph of Democracy, The Restoration of Serbia, and The Reconstruction of Belgium, while the latter illustrated key activities of the war effort such as munitions factories, women workers, training young soldiers, and agriculture in wartime.
Associated object
E.1392-1963 (Impression)
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1916-1918, London: HMSO, 1920.
Collection
Accession number
E.727-1918

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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