POSTER: BEN SHAHN (1898-1969). FOR ALL THESE

BEN SHAHN (1898-1969) FOR ALL THESE RIGHTS WE'VE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT. 1946.
29x39 inches, 73 1/2x100 cm. L.I.P. & B.A., New York.
Condition B+: minor restoration along vertical and horizontal folds; repaired tears in margins and image. Japan.
In 1943, the Council of Industrial Organizations organized the Political Action Committee in order to "protect the political rights of the working man, the returning service man, the farmer, and the small-business man" (Prescott p. 124). In 1944, the PAC worked towards registering union voters with an eye towards the national elections of that year. In his posters, Shahn primarily appealed to farmers and factory workers, playing to their fears of hunger, unemployment, inflation and war. Here, a gesticulating orator is surrounded by red, white, yellow and blue banners bearing the message of his speech. According to Shahn's widow, the title of this poster was taken from a speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and here "this demonstration of union activity . . . is coupled with the exhortative message REGISTER - VOTE, which is repeated on all the CIO posters of this series." (Prescott p. 131). Prescott 155, Images of an Era 4, Takashimaya 235.