| u0003_0004200_0000102 |
| Title | First in the Fight |
| Creator | James Montgomery Flagg |
| Date | 1917? |
| Format | 30 x 40 in |
| Description | This poster by James Montgomery Flagg, the well-known American illustrator of the iconic image of Uncle Sam proclaiming “I Want You,” shows a lone, white soldier in full gear with a pistol drawn and a large American flag serving as a backdrop. The soldier’s intense gaze, forward-leaning posture, and tightly clenched fist imbue the poster with a patriotic intensity that is difficult to avoid. Beneath the image, in blue lettering, is the popular slogan found in multiple posters, “FIRST IN THE FIGHT,” suggesting that the Marines are especially bold and deserving of admiration because they were the first to engage once the U.S. formally entered WWI. The material damage in the bottom left corner, as well as the inclusion of a specific location in New York for persuaded viewers to enlist, indicates that this poster was in circulation during WWI. |
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