The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
An Australian First World War recruitment poster issued by the Queensland State Recruiting Committee. It features a black and white reproduction of a painting by the Italian artist Fortunino Matania depicting German soldiers capturing women and children in a Belgian town during the First World War. The Belgian refugees or evacuees are carrying bundles of belongings, being escorted through the street by German soldiers. The image is set against a white background and framed top and bottom with the title text printed in red and black ink. The poster appeals to eligibles asking them ' Will you stand for this?'.
Fortunino Matania (1881-1963) was born in Naples, Italy and trained in his father's studio, illustrating books from the age of 14. He studied in Paris, Milan and London, where he worked at 'The Graphic'. He returned to Italy at 22 for military service in the Bersaglieri. After this he went to London where he joined the staff of 'The Sphere'. His pictures were published every week in 'Illustrazione Italiana' from 1895-1902. With the outbreak of the First World War, he became a war artist and spent five years at the front drawing hundreds of sketches. He was employed by the Ministry of Propaganda and his drawings of the conflict appeared in the 'Illustrated London News' and in the French journal, 'L'Illustration'. His work was admired for its technical accomplishment and accuracy. After the First World War Matania was made a Chevalier of the Crown of Italy.
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