Metaphor Collection (#92)

Wartime Hunting - a day with the suburban hounds (rationing)
Humorous drawing by H. H. Harris commenting on rationing in Britain in 1918 using the metaphor of hunting. Lord Rhondda, who served as Food Controller, is Master of the Hounds

WW2 Christmas card, Keep Going... for a Happy Christmas. The message inside reads: A message of cheer this Christmastide / To help to KEEP GOING along the steps / That lead towards a just

Girl with wheatsheaf. Young girl with wheatsheaf, a visual metaphor for a prosperous New Year. Swedish. Date: circa 1925

WW2 poster, Industrial Propaganda keeps production up to concert pitch. Design by Victor Hicks. Date: 1940s

WW2 poster, G R Notes are the Key Notes
WW2 poster, G R [Goods Received?] Notes are the Key Notes of harmonious store keeping. Wrong information and careless handling causes discord. Design by Victor Hicks. Date: 1940s

The Kaiser as Samson, WW1 cartoon
The Modern Samson Agonistes by Horace Morgan. The Wrecker of his own Empire and the Worlds Peace. Kaiser Wilhelm II depicted as a troubled Samson in the temple

Corsican Spider Web! July 12 1808 Hand-colored etching
Artokoloro

Woman Child Edo period 1615-1868 ca 1794-95
Artokoloro

The Blonde Wave (watercolour on paper)
XIR897673 The Blonde Wave (watercolour on paper) by Rodin, Auguste (1840-1917); 20x31 cm; Musee Rodin, Paris, France; (add.info.: La Vague blonde ); French, out of copyright

Heavenly ladder of St. John Climacus (tempera on panel)
BAL412159 Heavenly ladder of St. John Climacus (tempera on panel) by Russian School, (16th century); 63.3x44 cm; State Russian Museum, St

The Dispute over the Golden Baton or The Dispute between the Spanish and the Dutch
XIR168311 The Dispute over the Golden Baton or The Dispute between the Spanish and the Dutch over Trade in the Indies, 1609 (oil on canvas) by French School

The Canaanite woman, Adriaen Collaert, Philips Galle, Cornelis Kiliaan, 1595 - 1599

Healing the daughter of the Canaanite woman, Jan Luyken, Pieter Mortier, 1703 - 1762

WW2 - German Dog hassled by French pooches - " Stop him, hes a Gestapo Agent!". Date: circa 1940

Illustration of Dinosaurs on cliff
Palaeozoology - Mesozoic period - Dinosaurs - Art work

Charisma, conceptual artwork F006 / 3818
Charisma, conceptual computer artwork

Maze, artwork F006 / 7142
Maze, computer artwork

From alchemy to chemistry, 19th century
From alchemy to chemistry, 19th-century artwork. Alchemy is represented by the middle-aged man in the foreground, carrying out a distillation with an alembic

Unconscious mind, conceptual artwork. It is estimated that around 10 percent of mental activity is conscious thought, with the remaining 90 percent the unconscious mind

Human biology
Find out about the different kinds of memory we use, the Human biology gallery

Enlist On which side of the window are you?. A man looking out window at troops marching with large American flag. Date 1917

Silhouette, To Lay Up for a Rainy Day
To Lay Up for a Rainy Day -- silhouette showing a squirrel putting nuts aside for survival during the winter

Silhouette, An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away -- silhouette showing two schoolchildren, a girl and a boy, walking along eating an apple each

Silhouette, One Sows and Another Reaps
One Sows and Another Reaps -- silhouette showing a farm worker sowing seeds in a field, with horses pulling a plough in the background

Silhouette, The Fat is in the Fire
The Fat is in the Fire -- silhouette of a conflagration

Silhouette, Its an Ill Wind That Blows Nobody Any Good
Its an Ill Wind That Blows Nobody Any Good -- silhouette showing three people struggling along a street on a wet and windy day

Silhouette, Early to Bed, Early to Rise
Early to Bed, Early to Rise -- silhouette showing a little boy standing in front of his bed, stretching and yawning

Silhouette, The Last Drop Makes the Cup Overflow

Silhouette, Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow

Silhouette, To Hit the Nail on the Head
To Hit the Nail on the Head -- silhouette showing three children watching their father hammer a nail into the wall

Silhouette, Straws Show Which Way the Wind Blows
Straws Show Which Way the Wind Blows -- silhouette showing a farm labourer loading straw onto a cart on a windy day

Silhouette, A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss -- silhouette showing three stones rolling down a cliff face by the sea

Silhouette, To Fight Like Kilkenny Cats
To Fight Like Kilkenny Cats -- silhouette showing two cats circling each other aggressively, with pawprints visible all around them

A Drop in the Ocean
A drop in the ocean - a study of a single raindrop. Date: 1960s

Dunderpate and Susan with the squire
Dunderpate and Susan speak to the squire, who looks down at the offered pair of shoes. They remind him that he offered them a silver crown in return. Date: 1938

Dunderpate offers the squire his shoes, watched by his friend Susan. Date: 1938

Telephone pole and wires
Telephone pole with cut wires

Expanding universe, computer artwork
Expanding universe. Computer artwork illustrating the spatial expansion of the universe, using the analogy of an expanding balloon

Candles, Armenian Patriarchate church, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Communion bread, Armenian Catholic church. Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Over the Top by Bernard Hugh
The demobilisation of the army at the end of World War I was a slow process as this picture, from January 1919 confirms. Some units remained to police the Rhineland region

Eberts Heavy Task by Heine
Friedrich Ebert (1871 - 1925) rows through a stormy sea to the saftey of a distant island:a metaphor for the difficult task Ebert faced as the first president of the newly formed Weimar Republic in

A Spring P(h)antasy by Wilmot Lunt
Drawing on a popular theme of the 1920s, a rather sexually rampant looking faun with horns, disturbing red hair and beard and huge hairy legs ending in cloven hooves

Now that Women are doing Mens Jobs
Festive illustration by George Ernest Studdy (1878-1948) showing a woman dressed up as Father Christmas. The illustration is a festive metaphor for the increase in women taking over mens roles during

Fable / the Rabbits
THE RABBITS Rabbits flee at danger, but when it has been forgotten return to the same risk: a metaphor for human behaviour

Jameson Raid in a Mess
THE JAMESON RAID The British are in a mess after the failure of the Jameson Raid

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Metaphor: Unveiling the Hidden Meanings of Life Throughout history, iconic moments have been captured in art and photographs, each telling a story beyond what meets the eye. These glimpses into the past serve as metaphors for deeper truths, resonating with our collective human experience. In 1942, Winston Churchill's V for Victory sign became a metaphor for resilience and hope during World War II. His gesture symbolized unity and determination in the face of adversity, inspiring millions to stand strong. Gin Lane by William Hogarth in 1751 depicted a grim scene of societal decay fueled by alcoholism. This powerful artwork served as a metaphor for moral decline and warned against the dangers of excess. The charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, immortalized through art, embodied bravery and sacrifice. It stands as a metaphor for unwavering loyalty to one's country and comrades-in-arms. Daniel in the Lions Den painted by Briton Riviere in 1872 showcased courage amidst danger. This biblical tale serves as a metaphor for facing fears head-on while maintaining faith even when surrounded by adversity. A jigsaw puzzle featuring golfers on Prestwick golf course from around 1914 represents perseverance and precision. The intricate pieces coming together mirror life's challenges that require patience and strategic thinking to solve. The fencing match between Mademoiselle La Chevaliere D Eon De Beaumont and Monsieur De Saint George captured by Victor Marie Picot embodies equality breaking barriers through sport—a powerful metaphor reflecting social progress. Etchings from David Copperfield illustrated how self-expression can bridge gaps between generations—a poignant metaphor reminding us that understanding family dynamics is essential to personal growth. Ford Madox Brown's painting "The Last of England" from 1855 depicts emigration during an era marked by economic hardship—an allegory representing hope amidst despair; leaving behind old lives for new beginnings.