Throughout modern history, governments have used art and posters to try and sway public support and opinion. Think of them like the political memes of old. Posters like these were at their peak during World War II, but still exist in different forms today. Here are 21 of the most effective propaganda posters in history.
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This third famous Norman Rockwell from 1943 promotes free speech.
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Designed to encourage Russian workers to rise up against imperialism, these posters illustrated by Dimitri Moor spanned over a decade from the 1920s to the 1930s.
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“The guarantee of German military strength!”
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"I Want You" by James Montgomery Flagg, 1940, to encourage enlistment.
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Alerting the public to possible German spies during World War II.
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The red represents the Russian revolution, and communists piercing the old ruling class. Made by El Lissitzky.
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Years later he helped encourage Russian war efforts against Germany.
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The British counterpart to the famous American “We Can Do It” poster, encouraging women to join the war efforts. Illustrated by Phillip Zec.
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Pro Benito Mussolini poster in Italy.
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China promoted mass inoculations, believing that the United States were going to use bacterial weapons against them.
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This poster encourages Chinese women to join the labor force, Illustrated by Ning Hao, 1954.
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Illustrated by Norman Rockwell, these two posters were designed to draw women into helping with the war effort, the second featuring Rosie the Riveter. After illustrating propaganda for many years, he eventually turned to supporting civil rights efforts.
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This 1968 poster of Argentine marxist Che Guevara by Jim Fitzpatrick became the face of the anti-Vietnam war protests, Paris student protests, and continues to be used by guerrilla groups in Columbia, Mexico and more.
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Micah Ian Wright used the model of old World War II posters to criticize the Iraq invasion in 2003.
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Recent poster opposing net neutrality.
