Bonds Build Ships - Buy More Bonds

This poster design was commissioned by Abbott Labs , a medical products company that supplied the United States military forces in World War I and II . The text on the bottom of the poster reads "Published by Abbott Laboratories as a Contribution to the Treasury's Schools-At-War Program". This particular design emphasizes all citizens in the home front should bear their obligation to support the war effort by purchasing war bonds to help finance the war. The poster was designed by George Picken and strongly portrays the message that the more funding that comes from war bonds the quicker the battle ships can be built. George Picken ( 1898 – 1971) was born in New York City and served in World War l overseas. Picken was drawn to art and he remained in France after the war and began his studies. He returned to the U.S. and began formal art studies at the Art Students League in New York. He developed his own painterly style that is reflected in this poster. He went on to develop a foll