1918 United States Food Administration World Cry Food by William McKee WWI

Date: 1918
Artist: McKee, William
Size (in): 30” x 20.25”
Size (cm): 76.2 x 51.4
Condition: B
Linen backed: Yes

This striking WWI poster was created for the United States Food Administration by the artist William McKee. McKee stirs the patriotic juices by invoking the beloved and iconic Spirit of ’76 Minutemen image created by Archibald Willard for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Instead of Fife and Drum these modern Minutemen carry bushel baskets of garden vegetables and a sheaf of golden wheat above the tag line “The World Cry FOOD – Keep the Home Garden going”.

The Victory Garden program of the United States Food Administration under the direction of future President Herbert Hoover was one of the greatest successes of the era which helped to save millions from hunger in war torn distant lands.

This poster has been professionally linen backed with expert touch up and minor repair as needed including a couple short tears on the edges and a small bit of replaced loss in the margin on the tip of the upper right corner not affecting the image area.  A lateral crease at the center has been mitigated during the linen backing process.  This vintage original poster displays beautifully and is in very good condition overall.