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Introduction
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Before 1929: The Arrival of Picture Politics
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Irishmen!
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You Like Them Then! Vote for Emmott and Runciman
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After the War
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Irishmen!
You Like Them Then! Vote for Emmott and Runciman
After the War
Picturing Politics - The British Political Poster
Snicket
Political parties have used posters to speak to the people during
elections of the 20th and 21st centuries. In some form, posters
have survived despite the birth of radio, television, and the internet.
As the events of elections fade from our collective memory posters
have remained a lasting visual inheritance. This exhibition explores that
legacy. Starting with late Victorian examples it ends with posters from the
2010 election.
Posters here tell us that what seems politically ‘new’ is not. That our understanding of politics is dependent on a series of constantly evolving set of symbols. And that posters are the point where are and politics and meet.
Before 1929: The Arrival of Picture Politics
In the latter half of the 19th century technological
development enabled the printing of large colour posters. Political parties
often commissioned leading cartoonists to produce their posters. Consequently,
early picture posters looked very like contemporary cartoons. Like all political
cartoons they were frequently deeply cutting about rival parties.
Despite the spread of picture posters many were just text, crude and locally produced. Just as they had been throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Irishmen! Party: Conservative Election: 1900 (Conservative victory)
You Like Them Then Vote for Emmott and Runciman Party: Liberal Election: 1900 (Conservative victory)
After the War Party: Labour Representation Committee (became the Parliamentary Labour Party in 1906) Election: Possibly used in the election of 1906 (Liberal victory)
Exhibition Quiz:
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