Top of page

Photo, Print, Drawing Help Us Win!. Aiutateci a vincere!

About this Item

Title

  • Help Us Win!.

Other Title

  • Aiutateci a vincere!

Summary

  • The most iconic propaganda image produced in Italy during World War I was the poster created by Achille Luciano Mauzan (1883-1952) for the war-loan campaign of bank Credito Italiano (Italian Credit). Like the British artist Alfred Leete's image of Lord Kitchener, pointing at the viewer with the caption "Your Country Needs You," or the American artist James Montgomery Flagg's image of Uncle Sam exclaiming "I Want You for the U.S. Army," Mauzan had an individual--in his case an ordinary Italian soldier--pointing his finger at his fellow citizens and urging them to contribute to the war effort. Mauzan's poster inspired numerous imitations, including the poster shown here by the artist Anselmo Barchi. Created to promote war loans sold by the Banca Commerciale (Commercial Bank), the chief competitor of Credito Italiano, the poster also features an ordinary soldier pointing at the observer, with the caption "Aiutateci a vincere!" (Help us win!). Details of the loan are written below the title. Unlike Mauzan's carefully crafted poster, Barchi's effort was a propagandistic failure, as critics noted at the time. The soldier is disheveled and his collar undone. Unlike Mauzan's soldier, who conveys calm and determination, Barchi's soldier seems to convey panic and desperation. Before and after the war, Barchi worked primarily as a painter.

Names

  • Barchi, Anselmo, born 1853 Artist.

Created / Published

  • Milan, Italy : S.A.I.G.A. Armanino, 1917.

Headings

  • -  Italy
  • -  1917
  • -  Soldiers
  • -  War bonds and funds
  • -  War posters
  • -  World War, 1914-1918

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 print (poster) : lithograph, color ; 141 x 100 centimeters.
  • -  Reference extracted from World Digital Library: Thomas Row, "Mobilizing the Nation: Italian Propaganda in the Great War," Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts, Volume 24, Design, Culture, Identity (Miami Beach, FL: Florida International University Board of Trustees on behalf of The Wolfsonian-FIU, 2002).
  • -  Original resource at: Library of Modern and Contemporary History.
  • -  Content in Italian.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • World War I Posters

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021670900

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Barchi, Anselmo, Born 1853 Artist. Help Us Win!. Italy, 1917. Milan, Italy: S.A.I.G.A. Armanino. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670900/.

APA citation style:

Barchi, A. (1917) Help Us Win!. Italy, 1917. Milan, Italy: S.A.I.G.A. Armanino. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670900/.

MLA citation style:

Barchi, Anselmo, Born 1853 Artist. Help Us Win!. Milan, Italy: S.A.I.G.A. Armanino. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021670900/>.