Joan of Arc raises her sword. “Joan of Arc Saved France. Women of America, Save Your Country,” reads the poster that bears her image. A stern-faced Statue of Liberty clutches the flame of freedom and points her finger: “You Buy a Liberty Bond Lest I Perish.” Another poster bears a drawing of a helmeted soldier charging forward, head back, mouth open, gripping an American flag. “Over the Top for You,” the poster reads.
These and dozens of other stunning images are on display at Norman Rockwell Museum in a new exhibition, “Over the Top: American Posters from World War I,” opening November 8 and running through January 25. This timely exhibition explores the role of illustrated images in rallying Americans to the cause, and shaping public perceptions of the war.
During World War I, posters roused Americans to support their troops, fund international aid projects and buy bonds to finance the war effort. Imbued with iconic US symbols like the Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam and the American flag, posters were installed in libraries, post offices and schools in urban and rural communities as prominent reminders of the need for support.
Leading illustrators of the day, including J.C. Leyendecker, James Montgomery Flagg, Howard Chandler Christy and Jessie Willcox Smith, contributed their talents to create posters and billboards that had a powerful impact. Their illustrated imagery spurred the sale of more than $20 billion in government bonds †two-thirds of the total cost of American participation in the war.
“At critical periods in our nation’s history from the Civil War onward, the illustrators have buoyed up and inspired Americans,” said Laurie Norton Moffatt, director and chief executive officer of Norman Rockwell Museum. “Norman Rockwell did the same. During World War II, for example, his ‘Four Freedoms’ paintings, drawing on a 1941 speech by President Roosevelt, went on a nationwide tour and inspired Americans to defend the humanitarian ideals that are so central to our nation.”
A special highlight of the exhibition is a curated collection of photographs of Norman Rockwell from his time in the Navy during World War I.
The exhibition features selected posters from the collection of Thomas and Edward Pulling, grandson and great-grandson of the Honorable R.C. Leffingwell, assistant secretary of the treasury and head of the War Loan Organization. Leffingwell was charged by President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo to devise a strategy for underwriting the war effort. He received this collection of posters in gratitude for his role in the success of the war loan campaigns.
There will be an exhibition opening on Saturday, November 8, from 6 to 8 pm, with commentary by exhibition lender Thomas Leffingwell Pulling and James Meehan of Meehan Military Posters. The event is free for museum members and children 18 and under; $15 for nonmembers; and a special $5 admission and resource packets are available for educators with school ID. For information and reservations, 413-298-4100 or reserve online at www.nrm.org/rsvp .
A gallery talk is set for on Veterans’ Day, Tuesday, November 11, at 1:30 pm. Rob Doane, assistant registrar at Norman Rockwell Museum, addresses “Norman Rockwell and the American Homefront, 1917‱919,” a talk about Rockwell’s stateside service in the Navy. Free with museum admission.
