Date: 1918
Size: 19.75 x 29.5 inches
Artist: Ellsworth Young
About the Artist: Ellsworth Young (1866 – 1952) was an American magazine and book illustrator, and a noted painter of landscapes. He worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Collection of the Illinois State Museum, and was employed by the Denver Times and the Chicago Tribune as an editorial illustrator. Ellsworth Young studied at The Art Institute of Chicago with Oliver Dennett Grover and John Vanderpoel.
Young, an Illinois artist, was a member of the Chicago Painters and Sculptors and the Oak Park River Forest Art League. He painted several posters for the war effort of World War I, his best-known probably being "Remember Belgium". The Allied Nations made use of images of supposed German atrocities to bolster their propaganda machine. (Wikipedia)
About the poster: “Remember Belgium-- Buy Bonds Fourth Liberty Loans” was one of many posters issued by the U.S. government during World War I to encourage support of the war. This poster specifically ignited a multitude of emotions and outrage towards the Germans. The statement “Remember Belgium” was first used in England but was soon also used by the Americans. According to the Imperial War Museum, “In 'Remember Belgium', the artist uses the alleged atrocities committed by Germans in 1914 to generate sympathy for the Belgians and thereby encourage Americans to invest in war savings.” The Allied countries painted Belgium as a small innocent country that had been occupied and horribly treated by Germany. The U.S. and its allies wanted to paint this picture of the Germans in order to receive more support for the war through bonds or Liberty Loans. Liberty Loans were bonds that the government sold so they could keep up with the expenses of war. These bonds were sold back to the government after the war. (knowledge.e.southern.edu)
The poster is in good condition and ready to frame.