At center, a contrasting scene of two standing silhouettes: the left foreground figure in an overcoat and brimmed hat, rendered in black, and behind to the right a coatless figure holding a racket, rendered in light gray and contained in a vertical rectangle of bright yellow with abstract details appearing like trees and the sun. To the left of black figure is a bare tree with a triangle shape of gray and olive dots representing rain or snow. More rectangles and other overlapping geometric-shaped planes of frame the two figures in grays, greens, black, and yellow. Below in center a black horizontal rectangle with gray and green text: 'from WINTERS GLOOM / to SUMMERS JOY'.

There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag graphic design, advertising, transportation, seasons, London Underground, seasonal.

Object Timeline

1927	Work on this object began.
1963	We acquired this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2019	We photographed this object.
2021	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Poster, From Winters Gloom to Summers Joy

This is a Poster. It was designed by E. McKnight Kauffer and printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son and made for (as the client) Underground Electric Railways of London Company Ltd.. It is dated 1927 and we acquired it in 1963. Its medium is lithograph. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

The Underground frequently commissioned posters that promoted seasonal travel, but Kauffer’s image illustrating the transition from winter to summer is full of mysteries. Skipping right past spring, the poster also neglects to mention or depict the transportation system entirely. A bare tree floats beside a silhouette of a man in an overcoat who morphs into a tennis player amid sunshine and foliage.

This object was donated by Mrs. Edward McKnight Kauffer. It is credited Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.

Poster, Twickenham by Tram
offset lithograph on paper, lined.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-28

Poster, Near Waltham Cross by Tram
offset lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-29

Poster, Hadley Wood by Tram
offset lithograph on paper, lined.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-26

Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Poster, Spring in the Village
lithograph mounted on linen.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-82-2

Poster, Spring On The Hillside
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-81

Poster, Whitsuntide Holiday
offset lithograph on wove paper mounted on board.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-52

Its dimensions are

101.8 × 63.5 cm (40 1/16 in. × 25 in.)

It is signed

Printed in script, in olive ink, lower right: E. McKnight Kauffer

It is inscribed

Printed in gray ink, lower left: 262-1000-9-3-27; lower right: VINCENT BROOKS, DAY & SON, LTD. LITH. LONDON. W.C.2.

Cite this object as

Poster, From Winters Gloom to Summers Joy; Designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, active England, 1890–1954); Printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son; Client: Underground Electric Railways of London Company Ltd.; USA; lithograph; 101.8 × 63.5 cm (40 1/16 in. × 25 in.); Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer; 1963-39-40

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CxWc/
Accession Number 1963-39-40
Object ID 18447955