Art, Illustration, Physical Fitness, Original Poster Design, American, Mid 20th C.

Fit To Fight
American: Mid 20th Century
Gouache on illustration board
21.5 x 13.5 inches, image size
22 x 14 inches, overall
$1,075

An original illustration art painting, likely a poster design,  promoting physical fitness through sports for young men. The title “Fit-to-Fight” strongly suggests that it was a design developed in connection with a U.S. or local government program anticipating the need for men to be fit for military service. Thus it encouraged physical training as a patriotic duty. The main subject of the work is a handsome shirtless young man holding a placard with the heading “There’s always something doing at the gym.” This is followed by a list of athletic activities available there: “weight lifting, basketball, volleyball, badminton, wrestling, hand ball, boxing, squash.” The design is rendered in flat contrasting colors: bright orange and tan for the young man, lime green for the background, and bright blue for lettering, as well as the man’s eyes and mouth.  At the bottom, the words “Winter Program” appear in slender blue letters. Related governmental fitness posters are extant. For example The United States Public Health Service, Washington, D.C. published a mid-century poster titled “Keeping Fit” featuring a black and white illustration of a young man athlete running as if in a track and field event. That poster included the credit that it was “in co-operation with the American Social Hygiene Association” located in New York City.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, wear, handling. One margin corner professionally later tipped in.

Product description continues below.