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WWI Poster, Take up the Sword of Justice
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WWI Poster, Take up the Sword of Justice
Design by Bernard Partridge (1861-1945), Take Up the Sword of Justice, Parliamentary Recruiting Committee poster. One of the most popular, much plagiarised posters of WW1, used with great success to recruit following the torpedoing of the RMS Lusitania on 7 May 1915, one of the chief factors in bringing America into the war. Date: 1915
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Media ID 14185481
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Onslow Auctions Limited
Allegorical Bernard Committee Flowing Influence Justice Lusitania Parliamentary Partridge Recruit Recruiting Recruitment Robes Success Torpedoing
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This powerful and iconic WWI poster, titled "Take Up the Sword of Justice," was designed by renowned British artist Bernard Partridge in 1915. The poster, created for the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, became one of the most popular and influential recruitment posters of the war. The image of a resolute and determined female figure, clad in flowing classical robes and holding aloft a sword labeled "Justice," was a call to action for citizens to defend their country and uphold the principles of justice. The poster gained widespread popularity following a significant event in the war: the torpedoing of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915. This tragic sinking of a British ocean liner, which resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives, including 128 American citizens, was a major factor in bringing the United States into the conflict. The poster's message of justice and the need to defend one's country resonated deeply with the public, and its striking design was widely reproduced and plagiarized. The image of the sword-wielding figure against the backdrop of the sea is an allegorical representation of the call to arms. The red and white color scheme adds a sense of urgency and patriotism, while the classical costume and flowing robes evoke a sense of timelessness and tradition. This poster, a testament to Partridge's artistic skill and the power of visual communication, remains a significant historical artifact of the First World War era.
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