London Underground Interwar Art

Tonight art historian, Dr Jonathan Black, will give a talk about the London Underground's commissioning of leading modernists work in graphic arts & Tube posters. He'll be at the London Transport Museum where he'll explore an amazing variety of themes and influences ranging from technology and military strength to popular culture and film:


"The cosmopolitan line up of talent ranges from north Americian to British and European artists, including Austin Cooper (pictured above), McKnight Kauffer (pictured below), Tom Eckersley, Maurice Beck, Man Ray, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Julius Klinger and Hans Schleger."


I love these Art Deco posters. The Power poster by McKnight Kauffer is really typical of the industrialised style at the time. You can see the subtle use of the Tube roundel in the wheel which makes up a powerful forearm with electricity running through the veins.

Many people think that the power station in the top right corner is a drawing of Battersea Power Station, but it hadn't been built in 1930 when the poster was drawn.

"Pictures with a sting: the interwar modernist poster" starts at 6.30pm and will last for an hour. Tickets can be pre booked on 020 7565 7298 and cost £8.00 adults; £6.00 concessions; £4.00 students. Full details are on the London Transport Musuem's website.