Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.604
Object Name
Poster
Title
Into Battle by Low
People
David Low
Date
1955
Description
Large print of a cartoon by British wartime cartoonist David Low depicting the political climate around the time of the 1955 General Election. To the left of the print the Labour movement, trade unionists, and 'advanced' + 'backward' boys charge at the right side, featuring the middle classes, Conservatives, and the '1922' club. The right side carry banners reading "stock exchange" and "home guard" whilst riding on hydrogen bombs and old roman chariots. The left side ride on tanks and motorbikes labelled "old guard" and carry banners reading "renationalisation". Both sides sit upon horses carrying lances, although the left side's horse is labelled 'T.U.C and appears to be people in a horse costume whilst the right side ride on a white horse with a golden bridle. In the middle a man with a communist flag pops out of a molehill whilst at the top a woman labelled 'floating vote' is suspended in mid-air next to a man in a balloon labelled 'liberal' who appears to be throwing a grenade. The print is titled 'INTO BATTLE BY LOW' and was specially draw for Illustrated magazine. This print was an election souvenir originally printed on the 24th May 1995, just before the general election which saw Anthony Eden increase the Conservative majority to its largest post-war amount following the resignation of Winston Churchill. This poster has been taped onto apiece of cardboard and placed inside a plastic wallet for conservation purposes.
