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Food is a Weapon

Poster
1943 (made)
Artist/Maker
US Office of War Information (publisher)
Place of origin
United States (made)

This poster takes a very direct, instructional approach. It combines a command with a very literal illustration of the message. The one concession to symbolism is the wish-bone which appears to make a V for victory sign.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Propaganda
Posters
Object type
Poster
TitleFood is a Weapon (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Ink
Paper
Colour Lithography
Brief description
Second World War poster issued by the US Office of War Information
Physical description
The poster shows an image of a empty glass and a china plate with nothing remaing but chicken bones, a knife and fork. A white serviette is crumpled to the left of the plate, suggesting that a meal has been finished. The background is printed in various shades of yellow and green.
Marks and inscriptions
  • FOOD IS A WEAPON (printed in white on green, across the upper margin)
  • DON'T WASTE IT!/ Buy Wisely - Cook Carefully - Eat It All (printed in white on green, across two lines on the lowe third of the poster)
  • Follow the National Wartime Nutrition Program (printed in yellow on green)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Rationing
War
Propaganda
Knife
Fork
Glass
Plate
Bones
World War II
Summary
This poster takes a very direct, instructional approach. It combines a command with a very literal illustration of the message. The one concession to symbolism is the wish-bone which appears to make a V for victory sign.
Other number
LS.355 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.269-2004

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Record createdJune 24, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101112/food-is-a-weapon-poster-us-office-of/
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