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Silence, The Enemy Is Watching Out For Your Secrets

Poster
1939 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This was one of the most widely-distributed posters in France before the German invasion. Paul Colin portrays the enemy as a sinister shadow, and the image reflects the current fears and even paranoia about espionage. Colin, whose style was influenced by contemporary art movements, especially Art Deco, founded the Ecole Paul Colin in Paris in 1926. Many poster designers received training at this graphic design studio.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Silence, The Enemy Is Watching Out For Your Secrets (assigned by artist)
  • Silence, L'Ennemi Guette Vos Confidences (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Brief description
Poster warning about security of information in the period just before WWII. France, 1939
Physical description
Poster depicting two men talking, overshadowed by the menacing presence of a listening spy
Dimensions
  • Height: 60cm
  • Width: 39cm
Marks and inscriptions
PAUL / COLIN (lower right corner)
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
Summary
This was one of the most widely-distributed posters in France before the German invasion. Paul Colin portrays the enemy as a sinister shadow, and the image reflects the current fears and even paranoia about espionage. Colin, whose style was influenced by contemporary art movements, especially Art Deco, founded the Ecole Paul Colin in Paris in 1926. Many poster designers received training at this graphic design studio.
Bibliographic reference
"Sur Les Murs de France" by Alain Gesgon. Paris: Editions du Sorbier. 1979.
Other number
LS.387 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.271-2004

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Record createdJuly 5, 2004
Record URL
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