Bruehl, Anton. FREE LABOR WILL WIN. Original Poster in colors, 1942. Published by the War Production Board, Washington, DC. 40 x 28 1/2 inches; 1016 x 729 mm. Photo Offset. Photo by Bruehl. In this very striking image, the American flag frames a welder, his helmet visor up, pulling on his gloves, looking determined and ready to go to work. The message is intended to contrast America's free workers with the forced labor used by the enemy. Vertical and horizontal folds, as issued, with concomitant light creasing, else in excellent condition. Anton Bruehl was born in 1900, studied photography with Clarence White, and became noted for the originality of his commercial photography. "Working primarily in the studio, he produced images remarkable for their unusual lighting effects and angles of view; their strong, simple graphic organization; their meticulous craftsmanship; and their understated humor. Although he was best known for his stylish still life and table-top arrangements for advertising illustration, Bruehl was equally adept at the celebrity portraiture and fashion photography he contributed to Vogue (Contemporary Photographers, St. Martin's Press, 1982)." With Fernand Bourges he developed a color process which became the standard for color photography in the 1930's, and he is noted for the effectiveness of the use of color in his own work. He published several books, the most important being "Mexico" 25 black-and-white photos, published in 1933.
