c.1918 You Are Wanted By U.S. Army K.M. Bara San Francisco WWI
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Date: c.1918
Artist: Bara, K.M.
Size (in): 41.75” x 27.75”
Size (cm): 106 x 70.5
Condition: B+
Linen backed: Yes
This rare and dramatic WWI US Army recruiting poster was created by the artist K.M. Bara and printed in San Francisco, California during the First World War. Bara renders an image, seemingly inspired by both James Montgomery Flagg’s iconic I Want You For the US Army poster and Jacques-Louis David’s famous 1801 painting Napoleon Crossing The Alps. A US Army officer, presumably General John J. Pershing, rides a powerful and majestic white stallion. With the horse rearing up in dramatic fashion Pershing grips the reins with one hand and points directly at the viewer with the other hand adding emphasis to the poster’s message – You Are Wanted By U.S. Army. The bottom of the poster indicates the 660 Market Street address of the US Army recruiting station and the logo of the Schmidt Litho. Company of San Francisco, California appears on the right side of the poster.
Not much is known of the artist K.M. Bara but the acronym SFIA appears below his name in the image which might have indicated the San Francisco Art Institute. This poster was printed in San Francisco and probably didn’t see distribution beyond the West Coast of the United States which accounts for its rarity.
This vintage original poster has been professionally linen backed with some touch up as needed. A few pieces of cello tape were removed from the back and neutralized before the linen backing. A few short tears and abrasions have been expertly repaired and some creasing in places mitigated. The poster was issued folded and moderate wear to the fold lines shows slightly following the linen backing. Overall condition is very good for this antique original.
Artist: Bara, K.M.
Size (in): 41.75” x 27.75”
Size (cm): 106 x 70.5
Condition: B+
Linen backed: Yes
This rare and dramatic WWI US Army recruiting poster was created by the artist K.M. Bara and printed in San Francisco, California during the First World War. Bara renders an image, seemingly inspired by both James Montgomery Flagg’s iconic I Want You For the US Army poster and Jacques-Louis David’s famous 1801 painting Napoleon Crossing The Alps. A US Army officer, presumably General John J. Pershing, rides a powerful and majestic white stallion. With the horse rearing up in dramatic fashion Pershing grips the reins with one hand and points directly at the viewer with the other hand adding emphasis to the poster’s message – You Are Wanted By U.S. Army. The bottom of the poster indicates the 660 Market Street address of the US Army recruiting station and the logo of the Schmidt Litho. Company of San Francisco, California appears on the right side of the poster.
Not much is known of the artist K.M. Bara but the acronym SFIA appears below his name in the image which might have indicated the San Francisco Art Institute. This poster was printed in San Francisco and probably didn’t see distribution beyond the West Coast of the United States which accounts for its rarity.
This vintage original poster has been professionally linen backed with some touch up as needed. A few pieces of cello tape were removed from the back and neutralized before the linen backing. A few short tears and abrasions have been expertly repaired and some creasing in places mitigated. The poster was issued folded and moderate wear to the fold lines shows slightly following the linen backing. Overall condition is very good for this antique original.
