Place | North & Central America: United States of America |
---|---|
Accession Number | ARTV00112 |
Collection type | Art |
Measurement | sheet: 76.1 x 51.5 cm |
Object type | Poster |
Physical description | chromolithograph on paper |
Maker |
Bull, Charles Livingston U.S. Treasury Department Ketterlinus |
Place made | United States of America |
Date made | 1917-1918 |
Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain This item is in the Public Domain |
Keep him free. Buy war savings stamps
Depicts the American Bald Eagle, an emblem of the United States in her eyrie, with bi-planes instead of eagle chicks as hatchlings, sheltering the Allied flying forces. Behind the eagle is a blue sky, referencing Bull's influence by Japanese ukiyo-e, or floating world, prints of the Edo period (late 19th century). Charles Livingston Bull contributed several notable poster designs to the war effort. He integrated Art Nouveau and elements of the Arts and Crafts movements into his designs, flattening the picture plane, and introducing sweeping, curvilinear movement. The title of the poster, 'Keep him free', printed in red ink, runs from the upper left corner to the upper right corner; the remainder of the text occupies the lower fourth of the poster, and is printed in blue, yellow or grey ink. The War Savings Stamps scheme was an extension of the Liberty Bonds scheme, which encouraged the public to put their money into government bonds, rather than luxury items; the government then re-directed this money towards the war effort.
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