War Industry Needs Water 1940s Vintage WPA Poster

Designed by artist Glenn Stuart Pearce for the Philadelphia Council of Defense sometime between 1941 and 1943, this poster urged conservation of water as a war resource — a reminder that even utilities were rationed and defended as strategic assets during WWII. The bold factory-skyline silhouette against a red-and-yellow sky is a strong example of the graphic, poster-as-headline style the WPA leaned into during the war years, prioritizing an instantly readable message over illustrative detail.

Restored from the Library of Congress archival scan, preserving the original primary red, yellow, and navy palette.

Product features

- Giclée printing for bright, fade-resistant colors

- Three paper choices: Fine Art (textured), Matte (low sheen), Semi-Gloss (satin)

- Multiple sizes and horizontal/vertical orientations

- Paper weights from 180–285 g/m² depending on choice

- Shipped rolled for safe delivery

Care instructions

- If the print does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, dry cloth.