CLYDE (VICTOR) FORSYTHE (1885-1962) "Soak It!" World War 1 propaganda poster maquette, circa 1918. Charcoal on board. 22 x 30 inches. Signed in lower left image.
This is a striking, large original maquette depicts a muscular worker labeled "American Labor," smashing a German pickelhaube labeled "Prussia" with a large hammer, accompanied by the caption "Soak it!", an insult in use at the time.
Forsythe was a prolific illustrator, cartoonist, and fine art painter who worked in a wide range of styles during his career. Notably, he was a mentor and friend to Norman Rockwell, and for some time the two shared a studio in New Rochelle, NY (which had once been Frederick Remington's studio).
During the First World War Forsythe created a number of propaganda posters for the Committee on Public Information's Division of Pictorial Publicity; there is a strong possibility that this is an original design for one of these posters.
Original art for First World War propaganda is very seldom seen. Condition issues notwithstanding, this dynamic poster maquette is a remarkable surviving piece of American and world history.
