Postcard Art as Propaganda

Art as propaganda has always used postcards more so in the pre-digital age. This World War One (the Great War) American postcard is by the artist Right. It depicts three boys shooting giant marbles at their adversary. The boys represent America, Britain and France while the adversary is Germany. It’s the American boy’s turn to shoot his marble at the German Huns who are depicted as wooden toy soldiers. The caption says, “Down him Sammy”; with Sammy being in reference to Uncle Sam. This is meant as a humorous postcard encouraging good feelings on behalf of the Allied war effort. In the digital age video is the preferred medium in encouraging war support, while postcard art as propaganda is used mostly in America during election campaigns.

firstworldwar.com