Keep These Off the U.S.A., 1917
John Warner Norton (American, 1876-1934)
Lithograph on paper
On loan from the Joseph M. Bruccoli Great War Collection, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina
John Warner Norton was a Chicago-based artist, primarily a muralist, who was heavily involved in defining modern art in the early 20th century. In 1917, Norton explained, that “In order for (a piece) to have any strength, it must be condensed to a few big forms….” His simple, yet monumental image, is a powerful statement about America’s view of Germany as a blood-thirsty war machine. The image was Norton’s penultimate illustration and easily his most well known. He received letters from around the country in response, praising his contribution to the war effort.