WWI (Romantic Idealism & Demonization) (1914 - 1918)

Gilded Age/The Belle Epoque

Initial growing trust in institutions and government

Trusted Technology

Moral Flaws but improves human life

Opulence and Prestige

Major Focus on excess and many mainstream styles

Key Characteristics

1. During early WW1, posters are highly idealized and focused on heroic depictions

2. Focus on themes like recruitment, financial support, and public support

3. Later in WW1, posters become atrocity- focused and about the threat the enemy poses

4. Abandonment of ornamentation and graphic design as an art-form

British Propaganda

target specific individuals, journalists, and writers with a heavy emphasis on recruiting and positive public opinion. Uses Demonization

E.g. Pointing Posters, Comradeship, Emasculation, Atrocity

American Propaganda

Targeted much more renowned artists and creatives to launch a more aggressive poster series and heavily unite public opinion.

E.g. James Montgomery Flagg, Charles Gibson, Howard Chandler Christy, Over There, Atrocity

Frederick Spear, Harry R. Hopps

French Propaganda

France realizes a deeper sense of appreciation for posters, lending more of a painterly approach by hiring masters of academic painting styles

Lucien Jonas, Abel Faivre

German Propaganda

Embraces the stylistic leanings of Sachplakat, abstraction, and Blackletter

E.g. Lucian Bernhard, Hans Rudi Erdt, Julius Klinger, Ludwig Hohlwein