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Posters
Military and Veterans
World War I ➔ Poster, The Spirit Of Woman-Power
Identifier:
136639Description:
This full-color poster titled The Spirit of Woman-Power was designed by Paul Honore, a prominent Michigan-based artist specializing in illustrations, murals, and printmaking. It was selected as the winning design of a competition organized by Mina Humphery, a state-level registration publicity chairwoman in 1918. Honore won $100 and his design was printed over 10,000 times, resulting in a substantial increase in women recruits to aid the war effort during World War I.This poster depicts a woman in a white dress playing a drum with other women in the background carrying baskets, bags, and tools. Text at the bottom reads "The Spirit of Woman-Power | Women Serve Your Country While You Can | Register April 27 - May 4 | Woman's Committee of Council of National Defense Michigan Division".
More can be read about the campaign and the poster on the Grand Rapids History website.
Date:
1918Materials:
PaperCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Museum CollectionExhibit/Program:
I Want You - World War One Posters (July 1 2014 – December 21 2015)The years 1914-1918 mark the centenary of World War I, the most devastating global war in history. In the United States alone, over 4,000,000 military personnel were mobilized with 110,000 deaths. Virtually everyone was affected by the war in some way. In recognition of this important event in history, GRPM has selected posters from its permanent collection that demonstrate important issues at the heart of the war efforts.
Posters were a central way for the government to communicate with the public during World War I. The major themes of the posters were: patriotism and justifying the war, the recruitment of men and women for military and labor forces, raising money and resources as well as managing standards of behavior during a time when life was highly unpredictable. Through creative and symbolic graphics with bold messages, posters were considered a force in gaining support and uniting the public in the wartime efforts.
As you view these posters, reflect on the methods employed in creating them. How do the fonts, the word choice and images reinforce the intended message? Do these posters evoke a mood or emotion? Do any of the ideas in these posters conflict with the social and cultural norms of the time?