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Stock# 97209

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Sidney H. Riesenberg

Title

(U.S. Marines) An Opportunity to See the World: Foreign Travel - - Good Pay - - Expenses Paid

Publication Place / Date

n.p. / 1913

Image Dimensions

13 x 24.5 inches

Color

Condition

Stock# 97209

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Description

An Opportunity to See the World: Foreign Travel - - Good Pay - - Expenses Paid by Sidney H. Riesenberg, published in 1913, is an illustrative recruitment poster for the U.S. Marines. Heralding the promises of travel, decent compensation, and covered expenses, this poster beckons young Americans to join the Marine Corps, even as the United States navigated the tensions of a pre-World War I international landscape.

At the outset of the 20th century, the global scene was awash with geopolitical shifts and nascent conflicts. While the U.S. is often termed "isolationist" during this period, the nation's military was actively involved in operations that safeguarded American lives and interests, especially in regions proximate to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These endeavors were, in part, the context in which Riesenberg’s recruitment poster was situated.

The visual composition of the poster is an assemblage of motifs emblematic of national pride, martial duty, and adventure. Dominating the backdrop is the flag of the United States, a symbol of unity and valor. Amidst this, the central figures—U.S. Marines clad in crisp uniforms—stand resolute, evoking the discipline and honor associated with the Marine Corps. Warships in the background suggest the broad theaters of operations and the technological advances defining the military at the time.

Riesenberg's artistry goes beyond mere depiction, capturing the zeitgeist of the era. The painting technique and illustration style used are reminiscent of the period's visual arts traditions, revealing a blend of realism with the early modernist influences of the day.

In retrospect, this U.S. Marines recruiting poster serves as a window into the era's complexities. Beyond its primary function to entice potential recruits with prospects of foreign travel and good pay, it encapsulates the broader cultural, historical, and artistic currents of a nation on the cusp of a tumultuous global epoch.

Condition Description

Repaired tear in the upper left corner.