Original ‘School Print’, The Elephant Act, by Russell Reeve, and published by School Prints Ltd, 1947. The design depicts a circus ring viewed from an entrance walkway for performers. In the ring, an elephant can be seen performing a balancing trick in front of a packed audience.  A higher resolution image file is available for viewing on request.

School Prints Ltd was set up in 1945 by Brenda Rawnley to supply original, high-quality contemporary art to schools. The project commissioned both well-known and emerging artists, with the lithograph printing undertaken by the Baynard Press. Each lithograph had a drawn frame so that the print could be pinned to the wall. In the words of the Victoria & Albert Museum, “the scheme was a unique attempt at giving children access to original works of art in a period of austerity”. More information about School Prints can be found here.