Help Red Cross to continue its work of mercy

Poster depicting a mother, her small son and their belongings and two wounded soldiers bathing in the warm light of an angelic Red Cross nurse. The Red Cross Society's contribution to civil defence during the Second World War included training air raid wardens in first aid. It relied purely on public support for funds. James Northfield (1887-1973) became well known in Melbourne as a poster artist. In 1932 he set up a lithographic studio and his expertise in this printing process led to a commission by the Victorian Railways and the Australian National Travel Association to design travel posters. During the Second World War, Sir Harold Clapp, who was head of the aircraft construction branch of the Commonwealth Department of Supply and Development (and who had commissioned Northfield for Victorian Railways), approached Northfiled to produce posters for the war effort. Towards the end of his life he painted broadly impressionist landscapes in a popular style. James Northfield was one of the most celebrated commercial, graphic artists of the 20th century in Australia. He was recognised for his sound draughtsmanship, his excellent composition and the remarkable atmosphere of light and colour with which he captured the quality of the Australian landscape. His work appeared in billboard advertisements, promotional travel posters and posters relating to the First and Second World Wars.