1918 Over the Top
DESCRIPTION
This dramatic World War I lithograph was created by American illustrator Sidney H. Riesenberg and published in Philadelphia by the Ketterlinus Lithographic Company around 1918 for the U.S. Third Liberty Loan campaign.
The poster portrays Allied forces storming across a battlefield under a sky filled with smoke, tracer fire, and aircraft. American troops lead the charge, joined by British and French soldiers advancing in unison toward surrendering German forces. Tanks rumble forward on the left as the Stars and Stripes, Union Jack, and French tricolor rise prominently above the chaos, symbolizing strength and unity among the Allies.
The scene captures the intensity and scale of modern warfare, with bayonets fixed, explosions bursting across the ridges, and flames consuming the distant horizon. Riesenberg’s vivid use of color and motion conveys both the horror and heroism of the front lines, blending realism with patriotic idealism. The soldiers’ determined expressions and synchronized movement exemplify the spirit of Allied cooperation that defined the later stages of the war.
Produced as wartime propaganda, the print was intended to stir public emotion and reinforce confidence in victory. It glorified the courage of Allied troops while portraying their advance as inevitable and righteous. Such imagery not only motivated enlistment and morale on the home front but also reflected the broader narrative of unity, sacrifice, and triumph that accompanied the closing years of the Great War.
CONDITION
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