We've all seen millions of those 'Keep Calm and Carry On' posters over the past few years, but there's a secret history behind this print and the many others sold by Keep Calm Gallery in London.
The web-based gallery, run by a young couple out of their home office, offers reasonably-priced prints of some of the best modern graphic designs. They tend to focus their product range on interesting typography, and ship out cards, tea towels, and mugs in addition to framed or unframed posters.
As for the company's namesake (shown here): It was originally designed in 1939 as an inspirational message invented by the British government in case Nazis took over during World War II. After fifty years, the never-used design became public domain, and several companies began reproducing it on every available surface.
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Comments (8)
So what's the secret history? That it was a potential British propaganda poster in WWII? Everybody knows that. That doesn't explain the "secret history behind the many other" posters they sell.
I love the "cant stand the heat" print!!
The "Woman's Head Growing on a Peach Tree" is pretty freaky.
Visually, it's a little busy for me, but I like the concept of the "Absence" poster.
Is there a US version of this outlet? I would love that! TIA!
I think it's too bad they didn't reprint one of the others in the series
"Freedom is in Peril""
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7869458.stm
"Secret history" jumped out at me too. The history of this print is well known--even Apartment Therapy has written about it in the past.
Hi Everyone & Apartment Therapy! Thanks for featuring KCG in the Market Place. We really appreciate your interest in what we're doing! We get a lot of questions about international shipping, if anyone is wondering we are happy to ship worldwide! Thanks again, Lucas & Hayley.