20th Century World Wars Poster: Shadow Spreads

This poster was distrubted by the United States Treasury in 1942 as part of their campaign to sell bonds to the public to support America's fight against fascism in Europe. The public would purchase a bond, and it would be redeemed at a later date.  In total 85 million Americans raised over 185 billion dollars to support the war effort. 

The artist who designes this poster was Larence Beale Smith.  He was a well known artist during this time.  He received a PHD in art from Chicago University in 1935 and had his works exhibted at the Whitney art mesuem in NYC in 1941. He was sponsored Abbot Laboratories to paint patriotic works of art for posters.  He spent 3 months on a naval ship during WWII and also spent time in England.  He continued to work as an embeded artist during the invasion of Normandy Beach in France.  His paintings of "The Man without a Gun" and "Monstors at Omaha" are some of his more famous works of art during WWII along with this poster. 

His paintings from the battlefied of Normandy are the only first hand works of art in existence.  Many of his original lithographs are displayed in museums in NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, Harvard, and San Francisco.  Lawrence Beale Smith passed away in 1995. 

This image is enhanced from a Dover Publications book of WW I and II era posters.