| u0003_0004200_0000032 |
| Title | Victory is a Question of Stamina |
| Creator | Harvey Dunn |
| Date | 1917 |
| Format | 20 x 30 in |
| Description | Harvey Dunn’s 1917 “Victory is a Question of Stamina” utilizes dramatic military imagery to motivate American citizens to donate wheat, meat, fats, and sugar to the war effort. Set on a desolate, snowy battlefield, the image portrays two weathered soldiers rushing towards an unseen foe, a tactic Dunn deploys in multiple posters for the United States Food Administration. Dark clouds, broken trees, and an expansive horizon communicate pain and hardship experienced by the soldiers. In contrast to the muted colors of the uniforms and landscape, the text consists of bright colors that attract the eye of the viewer. In equating military victory with physical stamina, and requesting the donation of particular “fuels,” the poster suggests that audiences are responsible for the lives of soldiers. Note that the only word capitalized in the last line of the text (“the fuel for Fighters”) is the F in “Fighters.” This subtle feature elevates the status of the soldier, thus placing support for their nutrition as a top national priority. The grimy faces of the men, while precise and detailed, are ambiguous enough to invite viewers to imagine themselves in the image. Furthermore, in placing the soldiers in near perfect symmetry, almost as if they are figure skating, Dunn is able to express the necessity of collaboration and camaraderie throughout society to achieve victory. |
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