The Sword is Drawn, the Navy Upholds it! – Kenyon Cox (1917) – Patriotic WWI Canvas Print

Created in 1917 by American muralist and illustrator Kenyon Cox, “The Sword is Drawn, the Navy Upholds It!” is a striking World War I U.S. Navy recruitment poster that blends classical allegory with patriotic wartime symbolism. Produced shortly after America entered the First World War, the poster was designed to inspire enlistment and rally public support for the expanding naval forces.

The composition features a monumental female allegorical figure representing the spirit of the United States, draped in flowing classical robes and a crimson cloak while holding both a raised sword and a scroll declaring, “We can do no otherwise.” Behind her, American warships rest on the horizon, reinforcing the Navy’s role as defender of national ideals and military strength.

Kenyon Cox was deeply influenced by classical art and Beaux-Arts design traditions, and that influence is evident throughout the poster’s balanced composition, sculptural figure work, and dignified symbolism. Unlike the more aggressive propaganda imagery that would dominate later wartime posters, Cox’s work presents patriotism through heroic idealism and moral resolve.

Today, “The Sword is Drawn, the Navy Upholds It!” is regarded as one of the most elegant American naval recruitment posters of World War I. It remains highly sought after by collectors of military history, maritime art, patriotic Americana, and early twentieth-century illustration.

 

🖨️ Print features:

– Sustainable canvas stretched on radial pine frame

– Unique canvas coating for top-notch image quality

– Soft rubber dots on bottom back corners for support

– Safe latex inks for non-toxic printing

– Back hanging included

– Inner frame made with radiata pine sourced from renewable forests

– Please note: Due to the production process of the canvases, please allow for slight size deviations with a tolerance +/- 1/8″ (3.2mm)

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

 

🚚 Fulfillment, Shipping, and Return Policy:

– Printed and shipped from the U.S.

– 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!