war posters
Enlistment campaign imagery
War posters are printed materials used to mobilize public support during armed conflicts.
Governments have used them to recruit soldiers, encourage rationing, promote war bonds, and shape civilian morale: The museum's collection includes war posters from both World Wars.
The genre peaked before television, when posters were a primary medium for mass communication.
Iconic examples like "Uncle Sam Wants You" remain culturally recognizable.
- propaganda artImages promoting ideology
- lithographyGrease-based flat plate printing
- loose lipsHabit of revealing secrets
- keep calmRemain emotionally steady
- photomontageCombined image artwork
museum exhibitions · Uncle Sam · Rosie the Riveter · iconography · morale boosting · patriotic duty · historical archives · national archives · graphic design · home front · artistic movements
- 1940sWWII, D-Day, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, VE Day
- illustrationpainting, drawing, watercolor, sketch, charcoal
- posters
- political artpropaganda art, political murals, protest art, agitprop, political cartoons
- propagandapropaganda, brainwashing, disinformation, misinformation, indoctrination
- war effortliberty bonds, Red Cross, USO, victory gardens, scrap drives