Started in the First World War, the federal government created Liberty Bond drives to fund the expenses of sustaining the war effort. The drives were successful and used again in the Second World War. Many artists were involved and the patriotic themes used produced a variety of responses. The American people were tiring of the war and its demands but when the Joe Rosenthal image of the flag raising on Iwo Jima was produced there was an immediate uplift in the sales of bonds. The flag raising was the single most reproduced image of the war, and perhaps as well, of the entire 20th Century.

The artist of this image, Cecil Beall, was the Art Director for the National Democratic Party during President Roosevelt's administration, a well-known illustrator and portrait artist during the 1930's and 40's. His works were regularly featured in Saturday Evening Post and Collier's.

He studied at the Pratt Institute and Art Students League, and during the War years produced a popular series of Collier's cover illustrations depicting decorated World War II heroes.

Medium : 1 photomechanical print (poster) : halftone, color

Created/Published : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1945

Creator : Cecil Calvert Beall, artist, 1892-1967

Housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Availability: Usually ships in one week

Product #: cph3g03352