If you didn't want it why did you take it? Accession Number: ARTV07172

Description

British Second World War poster issued by the Ministry of Food advocating frugality. This poster features the image of a plate on which sits an unfinished slice of bread and butter with a cigarette stubbed out on the plate. Underneath highlighted in a dark blue box is the message 'If you didn't want it why did you take it?' During the war, shortages of food were acute, so the British Government conducted an advertising campaign to alert people to the issue of food wastage. These series of posters link domestic practices with the front line, associating the private with the public war effort.

Details

Accession Number
ARTV07172
Artist
Unknown
Classification
Art
Object Type
Poster
Measurement
Overall: 38 cm x 25 cm
Medium
Offset lithograph on paper
Date Made
c.1939-1945
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Transferred from the AWM Research Centre 1979
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

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Last modified: 1 December 2025 - 12.49 am