Howard Chandler Christy, Fight of Buy Liberty Bonds (detail), 1917, Lent by Thomas L. And Edward L. Pulling

During World War I, illustrated posters inspiring
public support served as a primary mechanism of mass communication. Persuasive visual symbols designed to rally Americans to the cause, they employed bold graphics, strong imagery, and concise commands to inspire a sense of nationalism and pride. Posters roused people to support their troops, fund international aid projects, and buy bonds to finance the war effort. Imbued with iconic United States symbols like the Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam, and the American flag, posters were installed in libraries, post offices, and schools in urban and rural communities as prominent reminders of the need for support.

Artists designed posters and billboards and offered public painting demonstrations to inspire the purchase of war bonds. The dynamic imagery that resulted, created by an impressive roster of illustrators including J.C. Leyendecker, James Montegomery Flagg, Howard Chandler Christy, and Jessie Willcox Smith among others, offer compelling perspectives on the American experience during this dramatic time in our nation’s history.