What is “American” about posters?
American Style implies an overall approach to posters rather than a limited aesthetic of the particular conventions of design and color. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of American posters is the way they mirror and enlarge American cultural issues. They mix art and commercial interests; they communicate phrases and may picture many forms of advocacy. Although we recognize that our response to many early American posters involves nostalgia for the times and events in our history, the most significant thread in our reaction to posters in all periods is a willingness to accept the disappearance of the distinction between high and low art. This is an American Style.
