The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
This poster is an appropriation of a Norman Lindsay First World War recruitment poster, `God bless dear Daddy...'. From surrounding darkness, a light shines on two figures, a girl praying at the knees of her mother for her father away at war. Instead of the words 'fighting the hun and send him help' of Lindsay's work, it says 'fighting the Viet Cong and send him OZ.' Lindsay's poster was intended to persuade its audience to go to the First World War while Sharp's poster is an advertisement for OZ magazine - Sharp provocatively using the well known First World War poster to draw attention to the satirical magazine.
Sharp was the art director for the original Sydney OZ magazine (1963-1969) and then the London edition (1967-1973); the magazine attracted controversy in both cities. This is an early example of Sharp's use of well known historical or pop culture imagery in his work. He became a leading proponent of the visual culture surrounding the 1960s counter culture internationally. He was an avid collector of cartoons and posters from the early 1920s in Australia and this is a striking example of how he would appropriate them in his own work, often for satirical purposes.
The full title reads 'God bless dear Daddy who is fighting the Hun and send him Help'. The third of the series of six posters by Lindsay constituting the last nation-wide Australian recruiting campaig
The full title reads 'God bless dear Daddy who is fighting the Hun and send him Help'. The third of the series of six posters by Lindsay constituting the last nation-wide Australian recruiting campaig
The full title reads 'God bless dear Daddy who is fighting the Hun and send him Help'. The third of the series of six posters by Lindsay constituting the last nation-wide Australian recruiting campaig
The full title reads 'God bless dear Daddy who is fighting the Hun and send him Help'. The third of the series of six posters by Lindsay constituting the last nation-wide Australian recruiting campaig
Australian First World War recruitment poster depicting a mother and child kissing. The father's portrait is in the background. Text explains 45,000 Australian fathers are enlisted and urges the viewe
Australian First World War poster promoting the sale of war bonds. It features a charming illustration of a little boy and girl dressed in white, holding hands. The boy holds a Union Jack, and the gir
Australian First World War poster promoting the sale of war bonds. It features a charming illustration of a little boy and girl dressed in white, holding hands. The boy holds a Union Jack, and the gir