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This poignant World War I-era poster, blending a mother's prayer with patriotic fervor, encapsulates the home front sentiment in the United States during a time of global upheaval. Published by the W.S.S., the poster is a persuasive piece aimed at bolstering the War Savings Stamps initiative.
During the Great War, the American government established the War Savings Stamps program as a means to raise funds for the military effort. Citizens were encouraged to contribute to the war finance efforts by purchasing these stamps, a method that proved both effective and widely popular. This particular poster plays a dual role; it is both a sentimental portrayal of the war's impact on American families and a patriotic call to action, urging citizens to financially support their troops overseas.
The visual centerpiece of the poster is a tender scene of a mother and child, set within a domestic space that stands in stark contrast to the battlefields alluded to in the accompanying text. The illustration, reminiscent of the period's printmaking style, evokes a sense of intimacy and the personal stakes involved in the war effort. This is underscored by the prayerful verse, "Now I lay me down to sleep," which has been modified to include a reference to a brother fighting "across the seas, in France, so far."
The poster's design is characteristic of the era's propaganda materials, with bold lettering and the American flag's colors framing the central image. The call to "Buy War Savings Stamps and Thrift Stamps" is underscored by a significant promise of a "4% compounded quarterly" return, blending the appeal to patriotism with a financial incentive—a reflection of the era's mobilization of all societal facets toward the war effort.
As a historical artifact, this poster offers an insightful glimpse into the home front experience of World War I. It provides a narrative that connects the personal sacrifices of families with the broader nationalistic duty, presenting a compelling snapshot of the period's social and cultural dynamics.
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