"Halt the Hun" by Henry Raleigh, original WWI propaganda poster. Framed, 20" x 30", exhibited in the 2018 AHM Rosenberg Gallery Show "Artists of War."

Very Good Condition

The entire U.S. population had to be convinced of their common enemy – Imperial Germany – and committed to its defeat. When patriotic fervor proved insufficient, Creel and the Committee on Public Information sought to instill hatred and suspicion of all things German. During the war, the term, “Hun” was utilized by the Allied governments with the aim of “breeding, fostering, and engendering a fierce and unrelenting hatred against the German people.” Artists of the Division of Pictorial Publicity (DPP) were tasked with turning American public opinion against Germany and in favor of the Allied war effort.

Henry Raleigh (1880-1944) dropped out of school at the age of 12 to help support his family. He worked in a variety of jobs before getting an opportunity to attend the Hopkins Academy in San Francisco. He excelled as an artist and quickly became the most sought after illustrator in San Francisco. After moving to New York City, Raleigh was hired by the New York World while also illustrating for several magazines. During World War I, more than 5 million copies of his first poster, “Hunger,” were distributed by the DPP. Raleigh was known for his use of heavy lines. His “Halt the Hun” poster became one of his most famous.