Who painted Give 'Em Both Barrels?

Give 'Em Both Barrels was painted by Jean Carlu in 1941.

Where can I see Give 'Em Both Barrels?

Give 'Em Both Barrels is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Give 'Em Both Barrels

Jean Carlu , 1941

Give 'Em Both Barrels is a poster by Jean Carlu. It dates from 1941 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Jean Carlu made a war poster in 1941. It shows a worker with a rivet gun next to a barrel. The shape looks like a soldier with a gun, linking home work to battle.

Some people liked how it used modern art ideas. Others said abstract shapes could mix up the message. Workers even mistook the man for a gangster.

Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this poster.

Overview

Give 'Em Both Barrels is a 1941 poster created by Jean Carlu, visually linking the home front war effort to the fighting on the front line.

Subject & Meaning

The poster depicts a worker wielding a rivet gun beside a barrel, its shape echoing that of a soldier with a machine gun, symbolizing the connection between industrial labor and military action.

Technique & Style

Carlu's design incorporates elements of modern fine art movements, exemplifying a style of war poster that sought to distinguish itself from commercial advertising through its use of abstraction.

Context

The poster's abstract style was subject to varied interpretations, with some factory workers misidentifying the worker as a gangster, highlighting the challenges of conveying a clear message through avant-garde design.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jean Carlu

This designer made bold wartime posters that packed a punch. Look at Give 'Em Both Barrels, a 1941 propaganda poster that commands attention with its sharp angles and urgent message. The work belongs to the…