James Montgomery Flagg

James Montgomery Flagg (1877–1960) was an American illustrator and painter, best known for his 1917 U.S. Army recruiting poster depicting Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer.

I Want You for U.S. Army: A 1917 U.S. Army recruiting poster by Flagg, showing Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer. This poster became Flagg’s defining image and one of America’s most recognizable recruitment designs.
Recruitment poster: A public notice designed to attract people to join an organization, especially the armed forces. Flagg’s Army image is a prominent example of recruitment through graphic design.
Art Students League of New York: An independent art school in New York City, founded in 1875. Flagg studied there as a young artist while developing his drawing skills.
World War I propaganda posters: Printed images used by governments during World War I to influence public opinion and mobilize support. Flagg’s recruiting design belongs to the larger visual campaign that accompanied U.S. entry into the war.
Uncle Sam: The personification of the United States, commonly depicted as a white-haired man in patriotic clothing. Flagg’s poster helped fix the familiar pointing Uncle Sam image in American visual culture.
Direct address: A communication technique in which a speaker or image addresses its audience directly. Uncle Sam’s pointing finger and gaze make the poster seem to address each viewer personally.
Howard Pyle: An American illustrator and author who taught and influenced generations of illustrators. Pyle’s illustration tradition formed part of the artistic world Flagg entered.
Lord Kitchener Wants You: A 1914 British recruitment poster by Alfred Leete, depicting Lord Kitchener pointing toward the viewer. Its earlier pointing figure helped establish a format that Flagg’s American poster made famous.
Liberty Bonds: War bonds sold by the U.S. government to finance American participation in World War I. Flagg also adapted his persuasive poster style to promote wartime bond purchases.
Propaganda: Communication designed to shape beliefs or behavior in support of a political cause or institution. The poster uses patriotic imagery and a concise appeal to encourage enlistment.

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Charles Dana GibsonRelated: Flagg represents the next generation of widely published American illustrators after Gibson.