Navy Recruiting Poster – Atomic Cold War Era – Able Ready Willing – Tom Schenk - Vintage c1960

 

Able Ready Willing

 

Illustration by noted artist Tom Schenk.

 

One of a group of 10 vintage military recruiting posters obtained from an estate setting… all have been in storage for 25+ years…  

 

Vintage:  Cold War Era

One is dated 1961… the others un-dated but appear to be of similar vintage…  i.e., from late 50’s or early 60’s….  certainly Cold War Era… after Korea and before Viet-Nam….

 

Condition is variable…. All show signs of display and storage wear.  Please reference the photos….

 

Overall Good / Very Good vintage condition.  ‘Able’ has a few edge chips and stains from cello tape at the four (4) corners (none of which affect the body of the image).

 

 

Measures    28” x 40”

 

 

Navy Recruiting Posters of the Atomic Age – background from the web

The end of World War II saw significant changes in the world of art and graphic design - the end of hostilities along with economic prosperity brought forth a more futuristic outlook.  This new look forward became the style we now call Mid Century Modern.  With the Navy moving way from direct warfare along with new themes in private advertising campaigns, they hired Joseph Binder as the head of the recruiting graphics department.  Mr. Binder was one of the founders of Mid Century Modern graphic design.  This style is characterized by minimalism, strong geometric shapes and bold color.  The themes incorporated in this new style focused on the future of technology, nuclear power, the onset of the Cold War and the fight against communism.  This exhibition is a collection of original paintings for recruiting posters as well as the posters themselves used by the Navy from 1946 to 1970.

 

 

 

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