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Description: | This poster was commissioned by the Underground Electric Railway Company in 1932. It was designed by Dora M Batty and depicts Persephone returning home, a story from Greek mythology. When Hermes rescued her from the underworld, Persephone brought fertility back to the desolate land. She became a symbol for the revival of nature in spring.
Notions of returning home and bringing good things nearer establish a link between the story and the Underground. Batty also offers a play on the words between the Underground and underworld, either of which could be represented by the cavernous black tunnel from which they have emerged.
Hermes, messenger of the gods and son of Zeus, can be recognised by his winged hat, sandals and wand. Surprisingly, he does not bear the winged wheel of Hermes. This ancient symbol of speed and safe travel was adopted as the trademark of the London General Omnibus Company in 1905. It eventually evolved into the London Transport roundel. | Format: | image/jpeg | Publisher: | London Transport Museum | Rights holder: | Transport for London | Subjects: | Transport Art and Design | Temporal: | 1932 | Source: | London Transport Museum | Creator: | Printer : The Baynard Press | Identifier: | http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/rser... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | image/jpeg | Go to resource |
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