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Ours... to fight for: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear

Poster
1943 (made)
Artist/Maker
US Office of War Information (issued by)
Rockwell, Norman (artist)
Place of origin
United States (made)

Rockwell used his neighbours in Vermont as models for four poster designs interpreting the four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These were principles which President Roosevelt had outlined in a speech in January 1941. The aim of the posters was to inspire people through the emotionally and morally charged images of the America they were fighting for. The posters proved so popular that the Treasury mounted a touring exhibition of the original artwork in aid of war bond sales.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Propaganda
Posters
Object type
Poster
TitleOurs... to fight for: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Paper
Ink
Brief description
"Ours... to fight for: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear" by Norman Rockwell. USA, 1943.
Physical description
Four images of an American family: speaking freely, worshipping freely, enjoying an abundance of food at Thanksgiving, and feeling safe within their home.
Dimensions
  • Height: 101.8cm
  • Width: 72.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
OWI Poster No. 47.
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
Production
This image was also used on the cover of the 'Saturday Evening Post'
Subjects depicted
Freedom
Propaganda
War
Families
World War II
Place depicted
United States
Summary
Rockwell used his neighbours in Vermont as models for four poster designs interpreting the four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These were principles which President Roosevelt had outlined in a speech in January 1941. The aim of the posters was to inspire people through the emotionally and morally charged images of the America they were fighting for. The posters proved so popular that the Treasury mounted a touring exhibition of the original artwork in aid of war bond sales.
Bibliographic reference
"The Censored War: American Visual Experience During World War Two" by George H. Roeder, Jr. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. 1993.
Other number
LS.513 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.75-2004

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Record createdOctober 25, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106734/ours-to-fight-for-freedom-poster-rockwell-norman/
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