What are YOU doing? The Kaiser is canned – Can Food – Can Vegetables, fruit, and the Kaiser too – National War Garden Commission

Description

Both the phrase "Can the Kaiser" and the plea for economy in food consumption were common cries during the Great War. In denouncing the German military leader, Kaiser Wilhelm, this phrase became common, for instance, in another poster, "You can help to can the Kaiser by lending your money to the government." As one of many efforts to try and stimulate patriotism and moral, the National War Garden Commission issued many posters urging conservation of food by home canning. In contrast to the other food conservation posters in this exhibition, designed to stimulate sympathy for the fighting men and sacrifice by those on the home front, this one by J. Paul Verrees takes on a positive, aggressive attitude, insinuating that this is a way for those at home to fight the enemy. It is also the only poster in the exhibition to make use of the pun--giving it a lighter attitude and with this, employing less somber colors than most. The head of the Kaiser "canned" emphasizes the joke, and links directly the saving of food with victory over him. In creating the design for this poster, Verrees kept these motives in mind, and appropriately uses bold colors and design to accentuate the aggressiveness of the message. The light green color of the background and the glaring eye of the Kaiser immediately draw our attention to the center of the poster where Verrees has also put the main message, "CAN Vegetables, Fruit and the Kaiser, too."