Buzz
Posters have a long and varied history, serving as powerful tools for promoting products, events, patriotism, and celebrities. In more recent years, they have evolved into an art form, celebrating vintage designs and memorable photographs. This collection showcases 10 widely recognized poster images, along with intriguing behind-the-scenes insights.
10. Lunch on a Skyscraper
I always thought this photograph was staged or altered, but it turns out it’s the real deal. Taken by daring photographer Charles Ebbets on September 29, 1932, this legendary image shows 11 workers enjoying a lunch break on the 69th floor of the RCA Building (now the GE Building) in New York, just before its completion. Many of the men have since been identified by their descendants. The two men on the far left and right are Matty O’Shaughnessy and Patrick (Sonny) Glynn, both hailing from County Galway, Ireland. The two emigrants had left Shaneaglish in Galway in the 1920s, seeking a new life in America. The man sitting fourth from the right is Francis Michael Rafferty, with his lifelong friend Stretch Donahue seated next to him. On the same day Ebbets took this iconic photo, he also captured another famous shot titled 'Men Asleep on a Girder,' which shows the same workers resting on the beam. You can see it here.
Interesting Fact: For many years, the credit for the photo was listed as ‘Unknown.’ The copyright owner of the image did not recognize Charles C. Ebbets as the photographer until 2003, following an extensive investigation by a private detective agency. Additionally, the photo has often been wrongly attributed to Lewis Hine, whose photographs captured the construction of the Empire State Building in 1931.
9. We Can Do It!
This iconic poster was created by American graphic artist J. Howard Miller. In 1941, Miller’s work caught the attention of Westinghouse, and he was commissioned to design a series of posters supporting the company’s War Production Coordinating Committee. While this poster is widely known as Rosie the Riveter, it was not called that when it was first released. The name emerged a year later, after a popular patriotic song titled ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was released. The poster came to symbolize the women who stepped up to produce war materials and took on jobs that had previously been filled by men who were now serving in the military. Miller drew inspiration for the 'We Can Do It!' poster from a photograph of Geraldine Doyle working in a factory. Ironically, Doyle only worked at the factory for two weeks before quitting, fearing that an injury to her hand would prevent her from playing the cello. The poster remained relatively unknown until the 1970s and 80s when it became associated with the women's equality movement in the workplace.
Interesting Fact: Geraldine Doyle, the woman who inspired the now-legendary poster, passed away last year at the age of 86. She didn't know she had been the model for the poster until 1984, when she saw an article in Modern Maturity magazine (now known as AARP) that connected a photograph of her to the famous image. You can view the photo here.
8. Farrah Fawcett
At the time this photo was taken, Farrah Fawcett was not yet a household name. She hadn’t joined the cast of Charlie's Angels yet, though she had begun appearing in commercials. Her agents wanted a bikini shot of her, so they hired freelance photographer Bruce McBroom, who had previously worked with her. The photo was taken by a pool at Fawcett’s home in Bel Air, California, where she lived with her husband, actor Lee Majors. According to a friend, Fawcett styled her own hair and applied her makeup without a mirror, using lemon juice to enhance her blonde highlights. McBroom used an old Indian blanket draped over his car seat as the backdrop. After trying on several swimsuits, Fawcett chose a red one-piece to cover a childhood scar on her stomach. It was at that moment McBroom knew he had captured something special. Out of 40 rolls of film, Fawcett selected her top six photos and ultimately chose the now-iconic image. The 1976 poster of Farrah Fawcett went on to sell a record-breaking 12 million copies.
Interesting Fact: On February 2nd, the day that would have marked Farrah Fawcett’s 64th birthday, her family made a significant donation to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Among the items donated was the famous red bathing suit she wore in the iconic pin-up poster.
7. Lord Kitchener Wants You
This iconic recruitment poster, showcasing Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, was first seen on the cover of the London Opinion on September 5th, 1914. During this month, the country experienced its highest number of volunteers. The Parliamentary Recruiting Committee soon obtained permission to use the image in poster form. Kitchener played a key role in organizing the largest volunteer army the UK had ever assembled to fight against Germany on the Western Front. In 1916, Kitchener tragically died when the warship he was on, en route to negotiations in Russia, was struck by a German mine. After his death, many dismissed him as a symbol rather than an effective leader. However, with the opening of new records, many historians now acknowledge his strategic foresight, particularly for his efforts in expanding munitions production and in building up the British military.
Fun Fact: This recruitment poster served as the inspiration for the iconic Uncle Sam 'I Want You For The US Army' poster, which became a staple in both World War I and II. Additionally, it influenced the well-known Smokey the Bear 'Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires' campaign.
6. Tennis Girl
This iconic poster, known as 'Tennis Girl,' was photographed by Martin Elliot in 1976. Upon its release, the poster sold over two million copies, likely most of them purchased by young teenage boys. The image features 18-year-old art student Fiona Butler, who was Elliot’s girlfriend at the time, posing at the Birmingham University tennis courts in Edgbaston. Fiona didn’t regularly play tennis, so she borrowed the dress and racket from a friend. She also wore her father’s plimsolls (early training shoes) and scattered her dog’s tennis balls across the court. Elliot convinced Fiona to pose in a way that revealed her bare bottom as she hitched up her dress. He sold the rights to the image to poster company Athena, though he retained the copyright, earning an estimated £250,000 in royalties. Fiona, however, never saw a penny from the poster.
Interesting Fact: Over 30 years later, and after numerous refusals to pose again, Fiona came forward to support an exhibition focused on lawn tennis as an artistic subject, set to be held at Birmingham’s Barber Institute of Fine Arts this summer. She feels her image has earned a lasting place in tennis history. Now 52, Fiona is a mother of three and married to a wealthy businessman. Despite never earning money from the poster, she has no regrets about her involvement. Photographer Martin Elliot, who captured the famous image, passed away at the age of 63 last year. You can see what Fiona looks like today standing next to her iconic poster here.
5. Albert Einstein
The famous photo of Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue, which became a popular poster, was taken by UPI photographer Arthur Sasse on March 14, 1951. After an event at Princeton celebrating Einstein's 72nd birthday, Sasse and other photographers tried to get the renowned physicist to smile for the camera. Einstein, tired from a day of smiling, was returning to his car when the photographers continued to pester him. He reportedly shouted, 'That’s enough, that’s enough!' Undeterred, the photographers kept snapping pictures, and the resulting image became one of the most famous photos ever taken of Einstein.
Interesting Fact: Einstein was so fond of this picture that he cropped it to feature just his face. He then made multiple copies of it, sending the photo as a greeting card to friends. The original image shows Einstein seated in the back of a car, sandwiched between Dr. Frank Aydelotte, former head of the Institute for Advanced Study, and his wife. You can view the original photograph here.
4. American Girl in Italy
This iconic poster is recognized by many, often seen in pizza places worldwide. It was captured by American photographer Ruth Orkin in 1951. Orkin traveled to Israel for a photo assignment with Life Magazine before heading to Florence, Italy, where she met fellow American artist, Jinx Allen, who is now known as Ninalee Craig. The two discussed their shared experiences of traveling alone as young women. Inspired by their conversation, Orkin decided to document the real experience of being a woman on her own. Orkin's photographic series, titled “Don’t Be Afraid to Travel Alone,” portrays scenes of Allan shopping in markets, crossing streets, taking carriage rides, and engaging with men at cafes. When Orkin noticed Allan being stared at by men in the city square, she asked her to walk through again. The result was the now-famous image. Ruth Orkin passed away from cancer in 1985, at the age of 63.
Interesting Fact: The woman featured in the photograph, Ninalee Craig, is reported to have said, 'I clutched my shawl to me because that sheathed the body; it was my protection, my shield. I was walking through a sea of men.' Today, Craig admits, 'I was enjoying every minute of it. They were Italian and I love Italians.' This year marks the 60th anniversary of the photo. You can see Ninalee Craig standing in front of her poster here.
3. Ali – Liston
This iconic photograph, also widely known as a poster, was taken by Neil Leifer, a renowned Sports Illustrated photographer considered one of the best in the world. What makes this particular shot especially interesting is the fact that it captures a historic moment. On May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine, Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) faced off for the second time against Sonny Liston. Ali had defeated Liston in their first fight the year prior. The conclusion of this second fight is one of the most debated moments in boxing history. In the first round, halfway through, Liston dropped to the canvas, but many felt it wasn't a legitimate knockdown. Rather than retreating to a neutral corner, Ali stood over Liston, taunting him by shouting, 'Get up and fight, sucker!' That’s when Leifer captured the now-legendary image.
Interesting Fact: Leifer has said that he was fortunate to capture this legendary shot because he was in the right place at the right time. Typically, Sports Illustrated would send two photographers to cover boxing events. For this particular match, Leifer was paired with Herb Scharfman, another of the magazine’s top photographers. Leifer shared his thoughts on Scharfman in an interview, saying, 'It didn’t make a difference how good he was, he was obviously in the wrong seat.' Scharfman can be seen between Ali’s legs in the famous photo. Between 1963 and 1972, Scharfman’s work graced the cover of Sports Illustrated 14 times, but May 25, 1965, wasn’t his night.
+ V-J Day in Times Square
This iconic photograph was captured by Alfred Eisenstaedt on August 14, 1945, and appeared in Life magazine just a week later. The photo was a completely spontaneous moment (not staged) that unfolded in Times Square when the announcement of Japan’s surrender was made. Eisenstaedt was rapidly shooting various celebrations that day and didn’t have a chance to get the names of the two people involved. As their faces are obscured, many individuals have claimed to be the ones in the picture. The identity of the nurse wasn’t revealed until the late 1970s, when Edith Shain sent Eisenstaedt a letter claiming she was the woman in the famous image. She had initially felt it was undignified to be photographed kissing, but as time passed, she felt differently. Eisenstaedt publicly supported Shain’s claim, despite numerous other nurses asserting they were the one. Edith Shain, who passed away at the age of 91 last year, reminisced about the moment, saying a sailor had pulled her into an embrace and kissed her, and she felt she could let him do so as he had fought for her during the war. Many men still claim to be the sailor in the photo, but the most prominent among them is Glenn McDuffie, who was 18 when the picture was taken. When he described the kiss on Good Morning America, he said, 'It was a good kiss. It was a wet kiss… Someone asked me if it was a tongue kiss. I said, ‘No tongue, but it was a nice kiss.’' McDuffie passed five polygraph tests validating his claim.
Interesting Fact: Few are aware that a second photograph of the same couple was taken from a different angle at nearly the same time, by Navy photojournalist Victor Jorgensen. This version also became a popular poster. It was published the next day in the New York Times under the headline 'Kissing the War Goodbye'. You can view the image here.
2. Che Guevara
The iconic image, Guerrillero Heroico (Heroic Guerrilla), was captured in Havana, Cuba, on March 5, 1960, by photographer Alberto Korda. He took the shot when Che Guevara made a brief appearance on stage while Fidel Castro delivered a eulogy for the victims of the La Coubre explosion. The famous two-tone portrait of Che Guevara, created in 1968 by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick, ranks among the most recognizable images globally, right up there with the Mona Lisa. This image has been reproduced widely, from posters to T-shirts, on nearly every possible surface. You can explore more of Korda’s photos from that day here.
Fun Fact: Jim Fitzpatrick, frustrated with the 'crass commercial' misuse of the image, revealed his intention this year to copyright it. Initially, Fitzpatrick made the image available for free to revolutionary groups in Europe. However, he now plans to transfer the copyright to the Guevara family.
1. Kiss by the Hotel de Ville
In 1950, Life Magazine requested French photographer Robert Doisneau to capture a photo spread about lovers in Paris. After spotting a couple sharing a kiss, he approached them and asked if they could kiss again for the camera. Françoise Delbart, 20, and Jacques Carteaud, 23, both aspiring actors, posed for the shot at three different locations: Place de la Concorde, Rue de Rivoli, and finally, Hôtel de Ville. After the image was published in Life magazine, it remained forgotten for over three decades in the archives of the photo agency where Doisneau worked. Eventually, a poster company acquired it, and it became one of the most popular posters worldwide. The poster’s success led to several people falsely claiming to be the couple in the photo. In 1993, a couple sued Doisneau for taking the photo without their consent. This lawsuit forced Doisneau to admit the picture wasn’t spontaneous and that models had been used. The case was dismissed after this admission. Over 40 years later, Françoise Delbart (now Mrs. Bornet) came forward with the original print, bearing Doisneau’s genuine signature and stamp, which he had sent to her shortly after the shoot.
Interesting Fact: Less than a year after the photo was taken, the couple went their separate ways. Françoise went on to marry Alain Bornet, a filmmaker known for documentaries and promotional content. Jacques Carteaud became a wine grower in southern France, where he lived until his death in 2004. Robert Doisneau carried on with his career as a freelance photographer until his passing in 1994, just two weeks shy of turning 82. In 2005, Françoise Bornet put the original print up for auction, hoping to receive around $25,000. However, the final bid reached 155,000 Euros (over $200,000). You can see Françoise holding the iconic image in 2005 here.
++ Stereograms
These eye-catching posters surged in popularity during the 1990s. In 1991, a computer programmer joined forces with an artist to create the first advanced full-color stereogram, using the latest 3D modeling software and vivid artistic techniques. To view the 3D image above, try allowing your eyes to diverge as though you're gazing at an object farther away than the image itself. "Good Luck". Click the image to view the original.
