World War I Poster, "They Kept the Sea Lanes Open," circa 1917

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Artifact Overview

During the First World War, governments of all the warring nations used poster campaigns to encourage civilian and military support of the war effort. Artists widely used an innovative advertising technique for these posters that moved away from a factual depiction of a product's material or event's subject to an emphasis on appealing to the viewer's emotions.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Poster

Date Made

circa 1917

Subject Date

circa 1917

Creator Notes

Poster by artist L.A.(Leon Alaric) Shafer, printed by W.F. Powers Lithography Co., New York, New York

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

53.5.352.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Mrs. D. Dwight Douglas.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 28.5 in
Width: 39 in

Inscriptions

Printed on poster upper right corner: THEY KEPTTHE / SEA LANES OPEN / Printed under image: INVEST IN THE / VICTORY LIBERTY LOAN.
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