This is the Enemy

A high ranking German soldier cooly stares off into the distance; his monacle's reflection reveals he is watching a hanging. This dramatic poster from World War II effectively captures the callous nature of "the Enemy". It was created at a time of fierce opposition to the US joining the war. It is one of the most iconic and important images created in America during WWII. Created by Karl Koehler and Victor Ancona as a team, this poster was one of the winners of the International Business Machines Corp. Award of the National War Poster Competition.

The National War Poster Competition was co-sponsored by the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the R. Hoe & Company, which began as a New York based printing press in 1805. By World War II, the R. Hoe & Company had shifted to parts manufacturing. There were 2,224 entries for the competition and 9 works were awarded special honors. The Sacrifice – The Privilege of Free Men was one of the recipients of the award. The collection of the 9 winning posters, including this one by Koehler and Ancona, are highly sought after by collectors.

Karl Koehler (1913-2000) and Victor Ancona (1912-1998) created this poster as a team. Victor Ancona studied art at the Parsons School of Design and worked as a commercial artist and advertising executive. He was serving as a private in the Army at the time that this poster was designed. Karl Koehler trained at the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art in Philadelphia, and began his career creating industrial designs and promotions. After the War, he became one of the most prominent designers of Christmas cards of the Twentieth Century.

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 our posters.