Politics and Protest
No posters are more concerned with building upon or establishing public images than political campaign advertisments. Although fine artists were sometimes eager to offer their talents, too much of an artistic component could undermine effectiveness. Campaign managers often preferred simple, unadorned photographic imagery to promote their candidates. Massed groupings of these bold, recognizable placards could announce a campaign office or political rally to all passersby.
In the 1960s, the poster became a popular tool for political activism. Posters appeared in college dorm rooms as a signal of one’s affiliations. Mounted posters became part of the ritual of political demonstrations. For example, the photographic image of Huey Newton—the imprisoned Black Panthers “Minister of Defence,” posed with a gun, a spear, and African shields—quickly became an iconic protest image; hundreds of copies were carried in mass “Free Huey” rallies.
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 I Want You/F.D.R.Franklin D. Roosevelt James Montgomery Flagg, 1944 Color photolithographic poster with halftone 53.9 x 42.3 cm (21 1/4 x 16 5/8 in.) National Portrait Gallery © Faith Flagg |
A Good Man Is Hard to Find Harry S. Truman, Thomas Dewey Ben Shahn, 1948 Color lithographic poster 115.7 x 75.7 cm (45 9/16 x 29 13/16 in.) National Portrait Gallery © Estate of Ben Shahn/ Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY | ||||||
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| Goldwater for President Barry Goldwater Amalgamated Lithographers for Tenny Press, 1964 Color photolithographic halftone poster 137.5 x 101.7 cm (54 1/8 x 40 1/16 in.) National Portrait Gallery |
Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defence Huey Newton Unidentified artist, 1968 Photolithographic halftone poster 88.9 x 58.4 cm (35 x 23 in.) National Portrait Gallery |
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| Bring the Troops Home Now Lyndon B. Johnson Nancy Coner, c. 1966–68 Color photolithographic poster with halftone 57.1 x 44.5 cm (22 1/2 x 17 1/2 in.) National Portrait Gallery; gift of Leslie, Judith, and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer |
Winner? Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin L & S Productions, 1970 Color photolithographic halftone poster 92 x 36.1 cm (36 1/4 x 14 3/16 in.) National Portrait Gallery © 1970 L & S Productions |
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| America Needs McGovern: He Can Put It Together George McGovern Larry Rivers, after Malcolm Varon, 1972 Color photolithographic halftone poster National Portrait Gallery; gift of Virginia Zabriskie © Larry Rivers/VAGA New York, NY |
We Are Still Here Leonard Crow Dog Paul Davis, 1977 Color halftone poster National Portrait Gallery; gift of Jack Rennert © Paul Davis |
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 Continue to Postermania of the 1960s |
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