| u0003_0004200_0000098 |
| Title | First to Fight |
| Creator | Sidney H. Riesenberg |
| Date | 1917 |
| Format | 30 x 40 in |
| Description | Sidney H. Riesenberg’s poster for the U.S. Marine Corps is a muted, hazy, almost dreamlike illustration of soldiers landing on a beach with guns drawn, charging toward an enemy that is not pictured. The viewer is positioned at the water’s edge, in close proximity to the charging soldiers, the closest of which sprints toward the viewer with a focused stare and a tightly clutched rifle. Like most WWI posters, the image focuses entirely on the contributions of white Americans, and deflects the involvement of minorities in combat. Riesenberg’s image is homogenizing in another sense, insofar that the soldiers appear almost to be the same person, a curiosity that can be seen in other posters by Riesenberg as well. The heroic scene, in combination with the text stating “REAL FIGHTING WITH REAL FIGHTERS,” depicts enlistment in the Marine Corps as an opportunity for men to demonstrate their toughness and valor. Above the image is the text “FIRST TO FIGHT,” a promotional slogan repeatedly used in posters by the Marine Corps. Beneath the image, in small letters, are the words “DEMOCRACY’S VANGUARD,” clear reference to President Woodrow Wilson’s declaration that war against Germany was needed to make the world “safe for democracy.” The pristine condition of the poster, and the lack of a local recruitment office address, suggest that this copy was not circulated. |
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