The latest special World War I centennial exhibition at the National World War I Museum and Memorial examines a weapon of war fare often overlooked: posters.
Posters as Munitions, 1917 showcases the depth and breadth of the collection through a series of works on exhibition for the first time at the Museum. Posters from France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the United States and more are featured, providing a sense of the global nature of this form of communication.
Soon after the outset of World War I, the poster, previously the successful medium of commercial advertising, was recognized as a means of spreading national propaganda with unlimited possibilities. Its value as an educational or stimulating influence was more and more appreciated. The poster could impress an idea quickly, vividly, and lastingly.
In almost every country involved in the war, the poster played its part as a munition of the war. The posters of 1914-1918 illustrate every phase and difficulty and movement: from recruiting to munitions work to war loans to the Red Cross to women’s work.
The exhibition allows the viewer to see vivid portrayals of how individual countries involved in the conflict viewed the Great War. Through these images, people can imagine the impact these posters had on the people who viewed them during the World War I era.
The exhibition is open through Feb. 18, 2018.
–Jane Geiger
