Keep him free. Buy war savings stamps

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

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

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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