Blood or Bread – Henry Raleigh (1918) – Patriotic WWI Poster Print

Henry Raleigh’s Blood or Bread was created in 1918 as a World War I poster for the United States Food Administration. Rather than depicting combat directly, the poster connects food conservation on the home front with the sacrifices being made by American soldiers overseas. Its stark message of “Blood or Bread” presents avoiding waste and eating only what is necessary as a way for civilians to contribute to the war effort.

A wounded soldier occupies the center of the composition, seated beside a large artillery piece and gazing upward with an expression of exhaustion and determination. The earthy brown and muted blue palette gives the scene a somber, almost painterly quality, while the brilliant orange headline provides a dramatic visual contrast. Below it, the appeal to “save life if you eat only what you need, and waste nothing” transforms an everyday act into a matter of wartime responsibility. Raleigh’s combination of expressive realism, restrained color, and forceful typography makes Blood or Bread a particularly powerful example of American World War I propaganda.

 

🖨️ Print features:

– Made with museum-grade archival paper for excellent printing fidelity and vibrant color reproduction

– Paper weight: 189 g/m2

– For indoor use only

– Care instructions: If the print does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, dry cloth.

– Please note: Due to the production process of these posters, please allow for slight size deviations with a tolerance +/- 1/16″

 

🚚 Fulfillment, Shipping, and Return Policy:

– Printed and shipped from the U.S.

– Ships in a sturdy mailing tube, frame not included

– As our items are unique and made to order, we can only accept a return or exchange in the event that an item arrives damaged or misprinted. We cannot accept returns if you order the wrong size or change your mind. Any return requests must be made within 14 days of receiving the order.

 

💬 Questions? Looking for something else, or want something in a different size? Feel free to reach out anytime; we’ll see what we can do!