ERP/Marshall Plan Posters

EUROPEAN RECOVERY PLAN / MARSHALL PLAN POSTERS -- POST WWII GRAPHICS PROMOTING INTERNATIONALISM AND COOPERATION

The ERP, or the Marshall Plan, was an US financed plan for rebuilding a shattered Europe at the end of WWII. Combined with a healthy dose of American capitalism, it helped pave the road for peaceful relations between European countries and worked to prevent the spread of communism.

In 1950, as part of a large propaganda campaign, artists from the 13 Marshall Plan countries took part in a competition to create posters which would graphically capture the spirit of reconstruction. From the almost 10,000 designs submitted, an intra-European jury made up of museum curators, art educators, and others chose 25 of the posters for production and distribution throughout Europe.

The predominant spirit of hope and growth after the devastation of war and the repeated images of flags in these posters gives us a glimpse into post-war culture and the budding of what is now the European Union.

Today we view these posters as classic graphics of the era and as visual demonstrations of the Marshall Plan's goals ; international cooperation and European recovery

We are proud to offer a rare opportunity to see the entire collection of 25 posters exhibited at the same time. Please contact us for further information and enjoy the exhibition!