An Escalator in an Underground Factory

Use this image under non-commercial licence.

The media for this item are free to reuse for non-commercial purposes under the IWM Non Commercial Licence. Video, sound and images can be embedded with the code we offer here, and images can also be downloaded. By downloading any images or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is: © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)

Purchase & License

Download

Embed
HTML: <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/176/461/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=art" alt="An Escalator in an Underground Factory"> </a> An Escalator in an Underground Factory <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)</a> BBCode: [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/176/461/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=art[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543]An Escalator in an Underground Factory. © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]
Use this image under non-commercial licence.

The media for this item are free to reuse for non-commercial purposes under the IWM Non Commercial Licence. Video, sound and images can be embedded with the code we offer here, and images can also be downloaded. By downloading any images or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is: © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)

Purchase & License

Download

Embed
HTML: <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/180/787/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=art" alt="An Escalator in an Underground Factory"> </a> An Escalator in an Underground Factory <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)</a> BBCode: [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/180/787/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=art[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543]An Escalator in an Underground Factory. © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]
Use this image under non-commercial licence.

The media for this item are free to reuse for non-commercial purposes under the IWM Non Commercial Licence. Video, sound and images can be embedded with the code we offer here, and images can also be downloaded. By downloading any images or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is: © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)

Purchase & License

Download

Embed
HTML: <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/187/252/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=art" alt="An Escalator in an Underground Factory"> </a> An Escalator in an Underground Factory <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)</a> BBCode: [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/187/252/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=art[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7543]An Escalator in an Underground Factory. © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 4142)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]

description

Object description

image: crowds of women factory workers in white overalls descend an escalator. A figure with a bicycle goes up the escalator on the other side.

Label

During the height of the Blitz in November 1940, Plessey, a manufacturing company with vital expertise in radio and aircraft equipment, took over a two mile section of newly constructed tunnels of the London Underground in order to maintain production. The tunnels between Leytonstone and Gants Hill were part of a scheme to extend the Central Line into East London and the only access was via stairs at the intended stations. In order to supervise the 2000 workers along the five miles of tunnel, the foreman was issued with a bicycle. The shapes of the figures were commented on in this painting but they give a sense of the strength of purpose and spirit amongst the workers.

History note

War Artists Advisory Committee Commission, 1944

Inscription

Frank Dobson 44

Object details

Category

art

Creator

Dobson, Frank

Production date

1944

Place made

Great Britain

Materials

Support: paper

medium: pastel

Dimensions

Support: Height 725 mm, Width 618 mm

Frame: Depth 45 mm, Height 882 mm, Width 780 mm

Catalogue number

Art.IWM ART LD 4142

Object associations

Related objects

art

An Escalator in an Underground Factory