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The CND symbol – one of the world’s most widely known – was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a professional designer and artist and a graduate of the Royal College of Art. He had been invited to design artwork for use on the first Aldermaston March. He showed his preliminary sketches to a DAC meeting in February 1958 at the Peace News offices in North London. On Good Friday in Trafalgar Square, where the march began, the symbol first appeared in public. Gerald, a conscientious objector, later explained the genesis of his idea: ‘I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad. I formalised the drawing into a line and put a circle round it.’ Gerald’s original, first sketches are now on display as part of the Commonweal Collection in Bradford; while the symbol continues to be used as shorthand for peace and hope. |
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What is 60 faces of CND? Founded in 1958 at the height of the Cold War, CND has been a powerful collective voice against the dangers of nuclear weapons. CND’s greatest strength has always been its members. Here we take a look at 60 Faces of CND, |
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