Clear the Way, 1918

Item — Folder: 1

Identifier: A2008-061-002

Dates

Creation: 1918

Creator

From the Collection: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952 (Artist, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Full Extent

From the Collection: 4 item/s

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Exhibition Label

Object labels, "Americans, Do Your Bit": World War I in Posters Opened 3 June 2017

Clear the Way, 1918 Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952) Printed by the Forbes Company Boston, Massachusetts Gift of Forrest D. McKerley, A2006-042-002

To generate both money and political support for the war effort, the Secretary of the Treasury spearheaded programs designed to sell war bonds to individuals. Here, illustrator Howard Chandler Christy attracted viewers' attention with a depiction of a young woman clad in a diaphanous dress wearing a crown made of laurel leaves--a symbol of victory--in front of an American flag. She gestures toward to a group of sailors in battle. Christy's dynamic portrayal of the figures and the scene gave his poster, and his message, a sense of urgency.