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One of our fighters is missing

Poster
1942 (made)
Artist/Maker
Ministry of Labour and National Service (issued by)
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (publishers)
Loxley Bros. Ltd. (printers)
Games, Abram (artist)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

World War II poster advertising the importance of safety in the workplace: a worker is absent from the factory because of an accident at work. The poster depicts a column of timesheets in pigeonholes numbered 71 to 79. All have a slip except for number 76, indicating that individual is not at work. A red arrow points to the empty space, and above it, running diagonally across the image is a grey banner with the words, 'one of our fighters is missing' in black letters. The lower third of the poster is coloured black with the words 'If you are off work with an accident'. The letter 'O' of 'Off' is of a larger size than the other lettering, and in the centre is simplified bed with a person lying in it.

Poster is backed onto linen, somewhat discoloured, with some cockling and folds, especially at top edge.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Propaganda
Health
Posters
Object type
Poster
TitleOne of our fighters is missing (generic title)
Materials and techniques
colour lithograph
Paper
Ink
Lithography
Brief description
'One of our fighters is missing. . .' workplace safety poster, designed by Abram Games for the Ministry of Labour and RoSPA, Britain, 1942
Physical description
World War II poster advertising the importance of safety in the workplace: a worker is absent from the factory because of an accident at work. The poster depicts a column of timesheets in pigeonholes numbered 71 to 79. All have a slip except for number 76, indicating that individual is not at work. A red arrow points to the empty space, and above it, running diagonally across the image is a grey banner with the words, 'one of our fighters is missing' in black letters. The lower third of the poster is coloured black with the words 'If you are off work with an accident'. The letter 'O' of 'Off' is of a larger size than the other lettering, and in the centre is simplified bed with a person lying in it.

Poster is backed onto linen, somewhat discoloured, with some cockling and folds, especially at top edge.
Dimensions
  • Height: 75.5cm
  • Width: 50.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'one of our fighters is missing. . ' (Incorporated into image, on grey banner running diagonally across the image, black letters.)
  • 'IF YOU ARE / OFF WORK / WITH AN ACCIDENT' (Incorporated into image, on lower section of poster, letters coloured grey, red, white and yellow. The letter 'O' of 'OFF' is larger than the others, and has a stylised image of a person in bed in its centre)
  • 'A. GAMES' (Artist's signature, upper right corner)
  • 'ML / 44' (Issue number, black typeface, next to the Society's symbol, a cog and a triangle, lower left corner of poster)
  • 'Issued by the Ministry of Labour and National Service and produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, / Terminal House, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.1./ Printed by LOXLEY BROS. LTD.' (Lower edge of poster, publishing and printers' details)
  • 'THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART / 11 WEST 53RD STREET NEW YORK / NEW POSTERS FROM ENGLAND / ARTIST / TITLE ONE OF OUR FIGHTERS IS MISSING / CIRCULATING EXHIBITION NO. / MUSEUM NO. P-92 BOX NO.' (Recto: printed and typed onto adhesive label, stuck down)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends of the V&A by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Safety
Work
Time Sheets
Arrows
Beds
World War II (1939-45)
Other number
LS.2051 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1887-2004

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Record createdJune 28, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O125512/one-of-our-fighters-is-poster-games-abram/
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