Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case 3G, Shelf DR7

Belgium Fights On

Poster
1940-1944 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

After the German occupation of Belgium in May 1940, a Belgian Government in Exile was set up in London, while in 1942 the Belgian League was established to organise resistance to the Germans. The purpose of this poster was presumably to encourage support within America for the Belgian resistance cause. In the diagonal sweep of the composition, the image of the bound prisoners facing the German firing squad is counteracted by the avenging Belgian soldier and the thrust of the fighter aircraft. The name of the artist, R. Sturbelle, suggests he was himself Belgian.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBelgium Fights On (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Brief description
Second World War poster issued by the Belgian Information Center, NY (USA) ca. 1940-44
Physical description
The composition comprises a cluster of four bound prisoners in the upper left corner before a firing squad of helmeted soldiers who stand on the diagonal at the right. The central image shows three war planes flying in formation. In the lower centre, printed in full colour, is a charging soldier thrusting his bayonet, seen from above. Large red type printed across three lines: "Belgium Fights On".
Dimensions
  • Height: 62.7cm
  • Width: 47.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • BELGIUM/ FIGHTS/ ON (printed in red)
  • R. Sturbelle (signiature printed in grey in upper right corner)
  • Published by the Belgian Information Center (printed in black across the lower margin of the white sheet)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Places depicted
Summary
After the German occupation of Belgium in May 1940, a Belgian Government in Exile was set up in London, while in 1942 the Belgian League was established to organise resistance to the Germans. The purpose of this poster was presumably to encourage support within America for the Belgian resistance cause. In the diagonal sweep of the composition, the image of the bound prisoners facing the German firing squad is counteracted by the avenging Belgian soldier and the thrust of the fighter aircraft. The name of the artist, R. Sturbelle, suggests he was himself Belgian.
Other number
LS.532 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.276-2004

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Record createdJune 18, 2004
Record URL
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