Let's Finish The Job (Merchant Marine)

Let's Finish the Job is a 1944 Merchant Marine recruitment poster, commissioned by the War Shipping Administration. At the time, American shipyards were producing cargo ships faster than crews could be assembled, forcing recruiters to rely not only on new volunteers, but also to persuade experienced mariners to leave retirement and go back to sea.

This poster is by one of the few female American poster artists to work for the US Government in WWII. Martha Sawyers (1902- 1988) was born in Texas but formally trained at The Art Students League in New York. She began her career as an illustrator for Broadway, and traveled extensively throughout Asia in the inter war years creating anthropological portraits. Upon her return, she was commissioned by Life Magazine as a war correspondent to the Far East. From there, she was hired to create several WWII posters such as this one. She continued to travel and work abroad for the rest of her life.

This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition.We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.