Posters have been a mainstay of the political landscape for many years. Some are used to demonize opponents while others are used to inspire. We live in a world where the 24 hour news cycle means stories come and go like the tides, but the art of politics stays with us long after votes have been cast and politicians have been sworn in.
Take Shepherd Fairey’s iconic ‘Hope’ poster featuring Barack Obama. As an artwork and piece of political artwork it is instantly recognisable. It is a rare piece of political artwork that can have such a strong impact on the public, but this collection of political posters from over the years shows that it was by no means an aberration.
The images below are just a few examples from the fantastic book Presidential Campaign Posters: Two Hundred Years of Election Art which we recommended you purchase a copy of, it’s a fascinating look at the past and in many ways, the future.
1856: James Buchanan (Democrat) v. James Fremont (Republican) v. Millard Fillmore (American)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican) v. Stephen Douglas (Democrat) v. John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) v. John Bell (Constitutional Union)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican) v. George B. McClellan (Democrat)
1872: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) v. Horace Greeley (Liberal Republican)
1908: William H. Taft (Republican) v. William J. Bryan (Democrat) v. Eugene V. Debs (Socialist)
1924: Calvin Coolidge (Republican) v. John Davis (Democrat) v. Robert La Follette (Progressive)
1928: Herbert Hoover (Republican) v. Al Smith (Democrat)
1948: Harry S. Truman (Democrat) v. Thomas E. Dewey (Republic) v. J. Strom Thurmond (States’ Rights Democrat) v. Henry A. Wallace (Progressive)
1968: Richard M. Nixon (Republican) v. Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) v. George Wallace (Independent)
1968: Richard M. Nixon (Republican) v. Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) v. George Wallace (Independent)
1968: Richard M. Nixon (Republican) v. Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) v. George Wallace (Independent)
1968: Richard M. Nixon (Republican) v. Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) v. George Wallace (Independent)
1972: Richard M. Nixon (Republican) v. George McGovern (Democrat)
1980: Ronald Reagan (Republican) v. Jimmy Carter (Democrat) v. John Anderson (Independent)
1980: Ronald Reagan (Republican) v. Jimmy Carter (Democrat) v. John Anderson (Independent)
1988: George H. W. Bush (Republican) v. Michael Dukakis (Democrat)
2008: Barack Obama (Democrat) v. John McCain (Republican)
2008: Barack Obama (Democrat) v. John McCain (Republican)
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