Must Children Die and Mothers Plead in Vain?

Must Children Die and Mothers Plead in Vain?

War Bonds

An American war bonds poster that reads, "Must Children Die and Mothers Plead in Vain? Buy More Liberty Bonds". The image is that of a mother, facing away from the audience, who is holding an infant and pointing toward the sky while another child reaches toward her. She is surrounded by various objects in disarray. The background behind the woman is bright yellow while the woman and children are bathed in pale, neutral tones. The posture of the woman suggests she is pleading to some non- visible character, perhaps a soldier threatening to kill her infant children. The dark shadows covering her body and that fact that her face is not visible suggest she is deeply grieving. The use of a female as a passive victim contrasts the masculine ideal, which was typically active and invulnerable. The use of the small children suggests that the woman is young, reminding the audience that the soldiers fighting are generally quite young. The poster attempts to highlight not only the sacrifices made by these young soldiers but also the grief felt by their families. The female viewer is reminded that there are passive acts she can do to show her support while the male viewer is called to enlist in order to show his support by the evocation of a vulnerable woman who needs protection.

Anonymous

McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tulsa. 2933 E. 6th St. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-3123

Sackett and Wilhelms Corporation

Between 1910 and 1920

English

1992.004.5.87

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United States of America

Poster

101.9 x 78.3 cm