Underground posters dating back to 1908 feature in new exhibition
Underground art from when the Tube was the envy of the world: Colourful posters dating back to 1908 go on exhibition for the first time
- Posters are going on display at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden
- Visionary Frank Pick revolutionised poster advertising on the Underground
Today, the adverts that adorn the walls of the London Underground are rarely known for their artistic merit.
But, when London’s transport system was the envy of the world in the first half of the 20th century, the artwork on display was of a rather more impressive standard.
Visionary Frank Pick – the network’s first chief executive – revolutionised poster advertising, which had previously been text-based.
After the first pictorial poster was produced in 1908, dozens of intricate adverts for some of London’s top attractions were displayed on the network.
From Friday, Londoners will be able to see those designs for themselves when a selection of of posters from the London Transport Museum’s huge collection goes on display in a new exhibition.
A portion of the London Transport Museum’s huge collection of posters is set to be displayed in new exhibition. Above: The first pictorial poster, produced in 1908, talked up the benefits of the Tube and said there was ‘no need to ask a policeman’ for directions thanks to the handy wall maps. It was designed by John Hassall
Also on display in the new exhibition is an eye-catching advert from 1911 showing a well-dressed female traveller pointing to an Underground sign which reads: ‘The way for all’. It was produced by Alfred France
More than 100 posters a have been chosen for the Global Poster Gallery, which will open its doors at the museum’s headquarters in Covent Garden.
The first pictorial poster in 1908 promised the ‘Underground to anywhere’ and claimed it was the ‘quickest way’ and ‘cheapest fare’.
It showed a worried woman asking a Metropolitan Police officer for directions, underneath a caption which read: ‘No need to ask a policeman!’
Also on display in the new exhibition is an eye-catching advert from 1911 showing a well-dressed female traveller pointing to an Underground sign which reads: ‘The way for all’.
Another poster, produced by famed designer Dora M Batty in 1926, advertises the countryside.
More than 100 posters a have been chosen for the Global Poster Gallery, which will open its doors at the museum’s headquarters in Covent Garden. Above: A 1931 poster by Edward McKnight highlighting the role of the power station that powered the Tube
Another poster, produced by famed designer Dora M Batty in 1926, advertises the countryside
This 1938 poster – talking up the role of the Underground in keeping London moving – was designed by American graphic artist Man Ray
This imaginative poster, produced by Anna Zinkeisen in 1935, shows an array of animals – including a zebra, horse and lion – being ridden
This poster, produced by Abram Games in 1947, promoted the London Underground to its millions of passengers
In this poster, produced Hans Unger and Eberhand Schultze in 1970, the bus was talked up as the ‘ideal grandstand view-point’
This 1975 poster by designer Tom Eckersley promoted a display of an array of historic vehicles at Syon Park in Brentford
This 1966 poster by Hans Unger talked up the art galleries that were on offer in London
This 1976 poster by Abram Games was one of many produced to promote London Zoo
A more recent poster in the collection – by Paul Catherall – dates from 2007, showing a view of the West End from Primrose Hill
Others in the collection lure visitors to London Zoo and various art attractions around the capital.
Pick, a solicitor by profession, was appointed the traffic officer of the Underground Electric Railways of London – the forerunner to the Transport for London – in 1908.
His task was to increase off-peak Underground travel and to encourage Londoners to visit new destinations around the country using new train lines.
His goal was achieved with a poster campaign that ran for a total of 32 years and utilised the work of hundreds of different artists.
Pick was also responsible for the Tube’s famous symbol – the red and blue roundel – and the iconic. Tube map of 1933, which was drawn by Harry Beck.
In 2006 it was beaten only by Concorde as the greatest British design of all time.
The Global Poster Gallery exhibition opens on Friday at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, central London.
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