WWII Patriotic Poster, Historic U.S.A. American Patriotism Symbols/WWII Patriotic Posters Civilian Jobs 6

Stunning! but effective War Poster Design?

Give 'em both barrels is a saying derived from the potent idea of discharging both barrels of a double barreled shotgun, thus causing double and devastating damage. The idea that outstanding poster artist Jean Carlu intended to imprint in the viewers mind was to "blast" the Axis powers with war industry production and the Allied military. Carlu wrote, "The memory retains everything that astonished it." In his poster "Give 'Em Both Barrels!", viewers find potent images conceived with the intention to arrest the eyes and create an effective memorable motivational viewer experience. Carlu preferred to be surprising in his work as depicted in this visual analogy between a machinegun and a rivet gun. Regretfully great war poster artistry does not necessarily always translate into effective message communication. A survey of viewers in 1942 done by the graphics bureau of the U. S. Office of Facts and Figures indicated there was confusion about certain images and the posters intent. In particular, survey data revealed that people believed the worker holding a rivet gun in this poster was a gangster with a machinegun and thought the poster's subject to be the FBI's war against crime. To provide more effective war posters and to control the form of war messages, the government created the U.S. Office of War Information in June 1942 to review and approve the design and distribution of government war posters was among its many tasks and responsibilities.

French Artist Printmaker Jean Carlu (1900-1997)

Although Jean Carlu was born and died in France spent the years of World War II in the United States, where he executed a number of important poster designs like this one "Give 'Em Both Barrels!" for the U.S. government's war effort. Characterized by the same scientific precision of form as his other work, these designs were well suited to the promotion of industrial production and efficiency. Both American and international design traditions continue to reflect his influence.

Jean Carlu Research Links:

Another WWII Stylized Poster

by French Printmaker Jean Carlu.

World War II Patriotic War Materials Production and Military Agression Poster public domain image; Give 'Em Both Barrels! in large text on a dramatic stylized poster using an image of a factory worker with a rivet gun above a similar analogous image of a soldier with a machinegun by French artist Jean Carlu published by the United States Office for Emergency Management, Division of Information; Click for larger printable copyright free graphic file of this artwork from French Artist Jean Carlu Give 'Em Both Barrels! vintage 1941 patriotic poster.

Second World War American patriotic posters like "Give 'Em Both Barrels!" helped unite Americans and mobilize the private and industrial sectors; U.S. citizens of every age, gender, and walk of life did their part to support the war effort, allied military and defeat the axis powers.

U.S. citizens hoped that the Axis powers could be stopped without American military support and hoped America could avoid direct involvement in World War 2 but that all changed the morning of December 7 when Japan blindsided the U.S. military with bombs in the attack of Pearl Harbor Hawaii and other U.S. military outposts. The military might of the United States of America of course responded with a powerful vengeance but leaders knew that troops could not win the war alone. The American citizens rallied for the troops and swift mobilization of American citizenry and industry during World War II was an achievement without precedent in speed, scale, complexity and duration. This achievement can be partially attributed to the federal government's intensive program to marshal the contributions of people of all ages and from all walks of life. Many Americans were willing to give up all luxuries and devote all spare time to the war effort to achieve victory. The posters in this gallery helped motivate and mobilize private citizens to find non-military support jobs and produce huge amounts of war materials. The public domain images of vintage patriotic posters from this collection like "Give 'Em Both Barrels!" featured on this page from the American Citizens, Agriculture and U.S. Industry Mobilizes to Support the Troops during World War 2 Poster Gallery of this website allow you to own a copyright free piece of WWII history, a historic patriotic public domain artwork poster that is still motivating today.

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