A nation that enslaves another cannot itself be free
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1979-1980
This political campaign poster, oriented in portrait format, features a bright green background alongside black-and-white photographic imagery advocating for peace in Northern Ireland. At the top, a map of Ireland displays Northern Ireland slightly separated and covered with a Union flag. Surrounding this are black-and-white images including a figure loading a weapon, people fleeing from a fire, and a man holding a camera. Across the lower portion, a camera is placed over an image of police officers holding riot shields, with the lens revealing an image of riots in Brixton.
Printed inscriptions include a statement attributed to Conservative MP John Biggs Davidson: "What happens in Londonderry is very relevant to what happens in London, / and if we lose in Belfast, we may have to fight in Brixton or Birmingham." Along the lower edge runs the main title text, "A nation that enslaves another cannot itself be free." Produced by The Poster Collective (also referred to as the Poster Film Collective) between 1979 and 1980 in London, the poster is a screenprint on paper encapsulated in plastic laminate. It measures 82.6 cm in height and 55.5 cm in width.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The poster was featured in the Greenwich Mural Workshop's 1986 exhibition 'Printing is Easy...?'.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Screenprint poster on paper encapsulated in plastic laminate
- Dimensions
- Height: 82.6 cm; Width: 55.5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Research required; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: What happens in Londonderry is very relevant to what happens in London, / and if we lose in Belfast, we may have to fight in Brixton or Birmingham. / John Biggs Davidson, Conservative MP.; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Research required; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: A nation that enslaves another cannot itself be free; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Unknown; The Poster Collective
- Place recorded
- London
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- A nation that enslaves another cannot itself be free
- Museum object number
- E.581-2013
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.