Wipe out all rats c1955

Maker unknown

Registration number

1726927

Artist/maker

Maker unknown

Title

Wipe out all rats

Production date

c1955

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions (H x W x D)

30.3 x 37.5 cm (unframed)

Inscriptions

It doesn''''''''''''''''t matter to the Rat / That they''''''''''''''''re intended for the Cat / So clear away those scraps of meat / And all the things that Rats will eat. / WIPE OUT ALL RATS

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Wipe out all rats, poster

Summary

Rat populations have always been a problem in cities. The black plague, which is estimated to have killed half the population of Europe in the 14th century, is just one of many diseases attributed to the presence of rats in places with relatively high population densities. The communication strategies used by city authorities have changed over the years but the purpose has been the same, as this poster from the 1950s indicates.