(Host) Commentator Margaret Jacobs is a metal sculptor and
Exhibition Coordinator at the AVA Gallery in Lebanon, New Hampshire,
where she’s been preparing an exhibit of powerful images from the World
War One era, in observation of Veteran’s Day.
(Jacobs) It was the Priceless Oil poster that stopped me in my tracks.
The
composition is beautiful with the use of scripted typography. The
artist uses complementary colors in order to catch the eye of the
viewer. The central figure is a bright red stylized caricature of a
Native American warrior with a full headdress and tomahawk. He is
pouring oil over the entire globe and unless you know French, the only
recognizable phrase is Priceless Oil . Graphic and bold, this work by
Henri de Laurencin delivers its message with both power and style.
Penfield,
Christy, Reisenberg, de Laurencin, these are all names of WWI
propaganda poster artists. And I learned this while installing an
exhibition of these posters at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon,
New Hampshire, in honor of Veterans Day.
Penfield is considered
by some to be the father of the American poster and his work is included
in many major books. Christy, preferring the depiction of pretty girls
over men at war, became famous for his "Christy Girls." Sidney
Riesenberg was an accomplished landscape painter but became best known
as an illustrator. They all had work in various publications – like
Harper’s Weekly and The Saturday Evening Post.
There are
similarities in their collective works, but each artist has his own
distinct style that can be easily seen in the different posters. And
every poster is gorgeous in its own way.
Penfield’s works are
bold with a limited color palette. There is beautiful detail on the
central figure with no extraneous information. Christy’s girls are light
and delicate.
They’re quite romantic and I imagine, did an effective
job of enticing young men to war. Reisenberg’s work is graphic and
strong with bold color choices and specific taglines: military,
trading, travel.
The purpose of these posters was to urge young
men to enlist in the service, and to convince Americans to support the
war, save food, and buy liberty bonds. Every American, young or old –
the posters said – could do their part to support and participate in
this war.
Each one of these posters was carefully designed and
beautifully crafted. And while the posters themselves are utilitarian in
nature the fact that the artist put so much work into the design and
production also makes them works of art.
It makes me wonder, when did we lose this elegance?
While
honoring military veterans is the primary reason for showing these
works today, they also function as unique art pieces. Not only do they
give the viewer a chance to see what the American people were thinking
about during the First World War, but they give us a glimpse of a time
when design and function were used to great effect to achieve a common
goal.
