Lucien Bernhard’s Das ist der Weg zum Frieden – die Feinde wollen es so! Darum zeichne Kriegsanleihe! (“This is the way to peace – the enemies want it so! Therefore subscribe to the war loan!”) is a striking German World War I war-bond poster from 1917. Bernhard, one of the most influential figures in early modern poster design, reduces the composition to a handful of powerful visual elements: a large German military helmet and a dramatically stylized bayonet, accompanied by a forceful appeal to purchase war bonds. The message presents continued financial support for the German war effort as the path toward peace, reflecting the persuasive rhetoric of wartime bond campaigns.
The poster’s remarkable visual economy is characteristic of Bernhard’s graphic style. The oversized helmet and weapon dominate the upper half of the design, rendered in stark black and cream with touches of red that draw attention to the words Das and Kriegsanleihe! The heavy blackletter typography reinforces the distinctly German identity of the design, while the thick border and extremely limited palette give the image the appearance of a bold woodcut or linocut. Rather than relying on a detailed battlefield scene, Bernhard turns a few instantly recognizable military symbols into an almost abstract composition, demonstrating how effectively early 20th-century poster art could communicate a political message through simplified form and typography.
This version has been color-adjusted to produce a lighter, whiter paper appearance while preserving the original artwork and design.
🖨️ 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.
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