Visual Culture and Health Posters

Title:: Soldat, La Patrie Compte Sur Toi

(high resolution jpg) High resolution version (6,533,414 Bytes)

Description:

As with tuberculosis posters, French artists led the way in creating a new style for posters addressing the problem of venereal disease. In this poster by Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, published in France in 1916, the illustrations of the woman and man embracing, followed by the physically debilitated soldier on his hospital bed, make the message implicit. Due to prevailing taboos, no mention of syphilis or gonorrhea is made, but the words on the tombstone make a connection between morality and patriotism. The message reads: "Soldier, the country counts on you--keep healthy. Resist the temptation of the street where a sickness as dangerous as the war awaits you. . . It carries its victims to decay and death, without honor, without happiness. . ." The poster includes two additional images common in venereal disease campaigns. First, the woman is invariably presented as the cause of the problem, frequently personifying the venereal disease itself. Second, death images such as the skull and cross-bones are used as powerful and fearful warning symbols.

Number of Image Pages:

1 (958,477 Bytes)

Date:

1916

Creator:

Steinlen, Theophile-Alexandre

Source:

Original Repository: The History of Medicine Division. Prints and Photographs Collection.

This image may also be accessed from the Images from the History of Medicine (IHM).

URL: http://wwwihm.nlm.nih.gov/

IHM Order Number: A32160

Publisher:

Unknown Organization

Rights:

This item is in the public domain. It may be used without permission.

Subject:

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH):: Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Public Health

Visual Culture and Public Health Keywords:: Venereal Disease

Exhibit Category:

Infectious Disease

Unique Identifier:

VCBBBV

Document Type:

Posters

Slides (photographs)

Language:

French

Format:

image/jpeg

image/tif

Physical Condition:

Good

Metadata Last Modified Date:

2004-02-02

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