The evolution between posters in WW1 and WW2
In WW1, lithographic posters were first used for propaganda. The posters were used to evoke patriotism, signify sacrifice and also the hatred of the 'enemy'. Lithographic posters were already established and well used within entertainment before the war and helped to show that illustrated posters were the most beneficial method of advertising to date, therefore, being a perfect method to create and spread propaganda.
The country that benefited most from the lithographic posters within propaganda was the USA, in which, in two years they had over 2,500 designs and had made over 20 million posters to help persuade americans to abandon their isolationism and conduct a full scale war against Germany.
Examples of the methods used in WW1 include the poster by Howard Chandler Christy called 'Gee I wish I were a man' created in 1917 as well as grim and dutiful posters for recruitment from Germany, France and the UK.
posters from the major combatants, the Soviet Union and Hungary present a host of themes and strategies such as utilizing flags, coins and other symbols.
In WW2, due to the rise of war again, posters were used again from Propaganda, and although many of the methods and themes stayed the same within the posters, there were many noticable differences due to the changes in welfare, society and also how the poster was itself.
WW2 struggled more with fascism and totalitarianism against democracy with noticeable and extreme differences within culture and race of the combatants. Due to a much stronger hatred for the enemy propaganda became much more violent.
An example being 'Tokio Kid' by Jack Campbell.
As well as a change in attitude in society and welfare, there was also an equally significant change in the nature and spreading of media. In WW1 the poster had been the most significant and most used method of Propaganda and spreading information, but in WW2, the use of film and radio started to dominate the scene, making posters, more of a supporting role instead of a leading factor. But due to propaganda posters not only being used in WW1, but also in the Bolshevik civil war, spanish civil war and political struggles in the 20s and 30s, the poster was still researched into its techniques.
The new trends of WW2, such as film, pushed the poster to have its illustrations replaced with photography and the posters became more realistic than abstract. Photography replaced illustration as a way to improve credibility to a more knowledgeable population.
An example of this is a poster called 'This is my fight too'
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