1940s-1950s

Second World War


Much like we saw in the first world war, the second world war also used posters as propaganda. Many of the most well known posters from the second world war were ones which were aimed at those living at home such as the 'Grow your own' and 'Dig for victory' posters which were based around the rationing of the second world war.

Here is a mixture of both British and American World War II posters;

AL PARKER GROW YOUR OWN, CAN YOUR OWN

USA, 1943

J. HOWARD MILLER WE CAN DO IT!

USA, 1942

ARTIST UNKNOWN FREEDOM IS IN PERIL

1939, UK

ZERO (AKA HANS SCHLEGER) GROW YOUR OWN FOOD

1939-1945, UK

USE IT UP

1943, USA

We Can Do It

Inspirational post cards for hard times

ILEX

A lot of the American posters remind me of pop art style even though this was before that era. As can be seen from these examples, propaganda was heavily used to influence woman back home. I feel a clever technique used for the posters aimed at women is not a way of scaring them into doing something, which is something the technique found in war posters aimed at men. These posters appear to be relatable to woman, for example the first one where a child is helping her mother put food into jars. The posters are vibrant and mostly give off a positive vibe which one would guess would have worked well in getting people on board in doing what the country wanted.