Our friend (1944)

"Our friend" (1944) is a work by Ben Shahn. Historical background, 1944: Posters, magazines, and illustrated books were major ways for the public to meet new art and design. Dada and Surrealism followed the First World War, the Bauhaus school was founded in 1919, and Art Deco became the fashionable decorative style of the 1920s and 1930s. Background on Vintage Posters: Posters announced theatre, travel, products, and events, combining image and lettering to be read at a glance from the street. Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and later modernist design each left a recognisable poster style. It is listed in the Vintage Posters collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

Everything for "Our friend" arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Vintage posters bring character, graphic texture, and a collected feel to the room, while pairing easily with both contemporary furniture and eclectic styling. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size.

American, 1898–1969

If you like the visual language of Ben Shahn, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.