In 1953, The Institute of Contemporary Arts organised a world-wide sculpture competition to commemorate or symbolise the theme of The Unknown Political Prisoner.

The intention was to pay tribute to those individuals who, in many countries and in diverse political situations, had dared to offer their liberty and their lives for the cause of human freedom. The Competition was undertaken on a truly international scale, in the hope that it would prove to be an inspiration not only to artists, but to all those in positions great or small who may give support to the arts.

Entry applications reached 3,500 from fifty-seven countries: Reg Butler won the Grand Prize and Gabo was one of four artist awarded a second prize, alongside Barbara Hepworth, Antoine Pevsner and Mirko Basaldella. The following note by Gabo

was published in the Tate catalogue: 'The tyrant wants us to be in fear of him and the artist's task is not to perpetuate that fear but rather to encourage resistance. The conception of my image for the monument is glory to him who goes to the stake and vanquishes the fear of pain and torture for the sake of his belief.'

This drawing is a sketch of Gabo's sculptural submission, which resides today in the collection of Tate, London.