Between the 1930’s & 1960’s the GPO (forerunner of Royal Mail) commissioned some of the
leading painters and graphic artists of the day to design posters to inform and promote the
services of the Post Office. Not only do their poster designs represent some of the most
attractive examples of commercial art of the Mid 20th Century. The GPO played a unique role
in influencing the post war modernist revolution. The nationwide reach of the Post Office
served as a unique way of communicating a more optimistic post-war narrative through new
ideas in graphic communication
The cultural importance of the GPO’s influence in the post war modernist revolution has often
been overlooked. Not only do their poster designs represent some of the most attractive
examples of commercial art of the Mid 20th Century. The nationwide reach of the Post Office
served as a unique means of communicating a more optimistic post-war narrative to the
public at large through these new ideas in graphic communication and modernist designs
