Not currently on display at the V&A

Back Him Up. Buy War Bonds

Poster
1918 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a toned-down version of the first poster Frank Brangwyn designed for the National War Savings Committee, published in 1918. In the first, captioned 'Put Strength In The Final Blow. Buy War Bonds' (an impression of this poster is in the Museum: inv. no. E.2319-1918), the falling soldier is more dramatically portrayed, suspended in mid-air, with the battlefield below and the dead figure prominently crumpled on the ground beneath. A proof for the design of 'Back Him Up . . .' (also in the Museum: E.3513-1931) bears the caption 'He Needs Your Help Now Buy War Bonds', but this has been changed to focus on the British soldier's strength and to avoid any implication of weakness. For unknown reasons, the artist's suggested colouring was also changed.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBack Him Up. Buy War Bonds (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph on paper
Brief description
'Back Him Up. Buy War Bonds'; Poster issued during the First World War; Colour lithograph; Design by Sir Frank Brangwyn; Great Britain; 1918.
Physical description
'Back Him Up. Buy War Bonds'; Poster issued during the First World War; Colour lithograph.
A variant figure of the British soldier wielding his bayonet appears in another of Brangwyn’s posters for War Bonds, an impression of which is E.2319-1918.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 1011mm
  • Sheet width: 1513mm
Dimensions taken from: 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
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
Auto-lithograph by Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A. (lettered)
Credit line
Given by the Underground Electric Railways Co. of London Ltd.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This is a toned-down version of the first poster Frank Brangwyn designed for the National War Savings Committee, published in 1918. In the first, captioned 'Put Strength In The Final Blow. Buy War Bonds' (an impression of this poster is in the Museum: inv. no. E.2319-1918), the falling soldier is more dramatically portrayed, suspended in mid-air, with the battlefield below and the dead figure prominently crumpled on the ground beneath. A proof for the design of 'Back Him Up . . .' (also in the Museum: E.3513-1931) bears the caption 'He Needs Your Help Now Buy War Bonds', but this has been changed to focus on the British soldier's strength and to avoid any implication of weakness. For unknown reasons, the artist's suggested colouring was also changed.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
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
Collection
Accession number
E.2318-1918

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 3, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSON