Propaganda Posters during WWI

Around 1915 tensions between the United States and America were beginning to grow. After the attack on the Lusitania ship a necessity grew to join up arms. This poster listed here by Frederick Spear entitled “Enlist.” Features a woman sinking to the bottom of the ocean with her baby. This type of sensationalist image was meant to evoke a nationalist sentiment. It uses classical imagery along with bold typography to catch the attention of the viewer. There is an implied incident which was featured in the news, it would have been known by the people who saw it. Tragedy elicits emotion which through propaganda is hoped to create a movement. In this case a movement to enlist or to maintain moral in order to raise funds for the military efforts. Along with eliciting emotion artists also used the tactic of demonization. This is specifically the demonization of the enemy. “So great are the psychological resistances to war in modern nations that every war must appear to be a war of defense against menacing, murderous aggressor. There must be no ambiguity about who the public is to hate” (Lasswell). In this way civilians can create an emotional attachment to the cause. Governments commissioned printing houses and agencies to propagandize war aims and influence public opinion at home and abroad. Designs appeared in various forms as posters, postcards, display advertisements, window cards and billboards. The designs used various methods to get a message across including fear of the enemy and humor. The first substantial advertisement campaign of the war was conducted by the parliamentary recruiting committee (PRC) in Britain, it included high proportion of typography posters, traditional appeals of King and Country and lithographic techniques. French poster design was meant to reach a higher level of design. At this time France already had an existing appreciation for posters and a place in their culture. Instead of focusing on abstract or highly graphic images, they went back to ideas of academicism and use of allegorical images.

This image by George Scott called "For the Flag!  For Victory!” (left) shows an allegorical figure. It echoes themes from French Nationalism and even harkens back to the French Revolution. The female figure recalls Lady Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix (right). The tricolor flag is very prominent and the classical styling evokes another layer of nationalism, i.e. the French Academy started by Nicolas Poussin.

Alfred Leete (1882-1933) - Born at Thorpe Achurch - He was a paid artist and begun working at Daily Graphic in 1897. - Leete was involved in a lot of magazines including Punch Magazine, Strand Magazine, Tatler - Leete designed a lot of posters and advertisements for a lot of companies like Rowntrees chocolate, Guiness, and Bovril - Created series of advertisements such as “Underground Electric Railways Company” and finally began working on war time propaganda. - Is best known for his “Lord Kitchener poster” design, which appeared in London Opinion.

George Creel (1876-1953) - George Creel was a man who was against censorship, he was also a spokesman for the Committee of Public Information created by President Wilson. He debated on how much censorship should be imposed on magazines and propaganda. - Creel used propaganda to get his speech and opinions across to his audience. - Creel approved of the plethora of artists creating amazing posters and were placed under “Division of Pictorial Publicity” - Artists such as James Montgomery Flagg, Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher and Joseph Pennell created patriotic propagandas with amazing artwork. - Creel mobilized America’s advertising industries including newspapers, magazines, and public advertising. Billboards, walls on subway stations, the side of barns, and much more. - Pamphlets, leaflets, propaganda booklets and much more.