From Country to the Heart of Town for Shopping

Dora Batty's approach to The Underground advertisements reflects her lens as a woman designer who existed outside the scope of the male-dominated Bauhaus style that was prominent at the time. We see elements of the Bauhaus that have heavily inspired and shaped modern Western design such as asymmetry and an affinity for simplicity through shape and color choices. We also see the attention to textiles and garments, Battys was heavily influenced by examining the question, Who uses the London underground, and Where are they going? When looking at this series, All the figures represent women in nice clothing and using that travel for shopping, going to the theatre, and other activities that cost money. We can see the stereotypes of women and upper-class figures being perpetuated here through the representation of women pursuing these specific leisures, and having the time or resources to do so. One thing that is particularly interesting about this poster is the way the woman has been illustrated here, she is alone and drawn in a confident/ defiant pose. There is an emphasis on her items and her arms wrapped around them, this can be translated into ownership. These elements can be interpreted as subtly challenging ideas of the domestic sphere that were prominent at the time in British culture.