Arthur Szyk, 1942, Fool the Axis Use Prophylaxis (poster). The master of political caricature, unloads both barrels on World War II’s Terrible Threesome: Mussolini, Tojo, and Hitler. In this public service announcement designed to protect American G.I.’s from the ravages of venereal disease, he portrays the Axis leaders as already in the advanced stages of Syphilis and Gonorrhea. They are an odious mess of chancroids and festering blisters. Both Tojo and Hitler clutch hypodermic syringes the size of missiles, while Mussolini parades a wanton harlot puppet upon whose lower body parts is displayed a skull and crossbones.“Prophylaxis Prevents Venereal Disease” reads the lower headline. Certainly such an irreverent take on what as always been a serious problem for soldiers, must have been met with delight by our boys “over there”.
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Arthur_Szyk" class="extiw" title="w:en:Arthur Szyk"><span title="Polish-Jewish artist (1894–1951)">Arthur Szyk</span></a>
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The Arthur Szyk Society, Burlingame, CA 94070 (www.szyk.org)