World War I 100 Years Ago: Dec. 2-8

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, December 6, 1916: Yesterday and today a large crowd of several hundred persons paid a 25¢ (2015: $6) admittance charge to see posters of the Great War drawn by world famous artists and cartoonists Frank Brangwyn, Gerald Spencer-Pryse, Louis Raemaekers, and Théophile Steinlen at the home of Hugh H. Harrison, 1230 N. Delaware St. The exhibit is being shown for the benefit of the Belgian Relief Fund. Posters in dark tones with titles like “The Devastation” and “Violation of Belgium” depict war’s tragedies, while others rich in reds, greens and browns show the lighter moments behind the trenches with Tommies, poilus, and pretty French girls. Prices range from $1 to $80 (2015: $22-$1,758), and those in charge of the exhibit declared that its success had exceeded their highest hopes. Already the posters are becoming rare.