Catalogue Number
NMLH.2022.319
Object Name
Postcard
Title
Haywain with Cruise Missiles
Date
1983
Description
Postcard with a colourised photomontage on the front. This shows three nuclear warheads, which have been inserted into the idyllic East Anglian countryside depicted in John Constable's famous painting The Hay Wain (1821). The impetus for this work was the proposal to hone US nuclear cruise missiles in rural East Englia. It was also a response to a Ministry of Defence leaflet that portrayed the missiles in delicate watercolours. Peter Kennard (born 17 February 1949) is a London born and based photomontage artist and Senior Research Reader in Photography, Art and the Public Domain at the Royal College of Art. Seeking to reflect his involvement in the anti-Vietnam War movement, he turned from painting to photomontage to better address his political views. He is best known for the images he created for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in the 1970sâ80s. The reverse of this postcard reads, "The cruise missile is small enough to be carted round country lanes on transporters from which it can also be fired. Solely under United States control, it will turn huge areas of Britain into a military target. The two bases chosen for the initial missiles - Greenham Common (Berks) and Molesworth (cambs) - have become a focus for opposition to cruise."
