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One sheet original World War II propaganda poster, titled
"For progress in the Future—SAVE NOW," was created by the prominent British illustrator and graphic designer Eric Fraser (1902–1983). Issued by the National Savings Committee in the 1940s, it served as a "Home Front" call to action, encouraging citizens to save money to fund the post-war reconstruction and industrial progress of Britain.
Poster Analysis
The artwork utilizes a surrealist montage style to represent the foundational elements needed for a prosperous future.
Key Materials: The composition explicitly labels and depicts the "raw materials of industry":
Coal: Shown as a dark mass with a hand emerging to reach for fresh vegetables, symbolizing the bridge between heavy industry and food security.
Steel, Concrete, and Wood: These are represented through industrial imagery like factories, metal pipes, and wooden cutouts shaped like an airplane.
Fabrics: Represented by a roll of red cloth, hinting at the return of consumer goods like clothing after wartime rationing.
Symbolism: The imagery contrasts "urban industry" with "rural bliss". The inclusion of a telephone, a chair, and a plane emphasizes a modern, technologically advanced future that can only be reached through current financial discipline.
The Message: Like many posters of the era, it aimed to inspire civic duty. By asking the public to "SAVE NOW," the government sought to curb inflation during the war while ensuring there was capital available for rebuilding the nation's infrastructure and industry once the conflict ended.
About the Artist: Eric Fraser
Eric Fraser was a highly influential 20th-century designer known for his "Modernist view of the past" and his ability to unite disparate elements into tightly structured compositions. |
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