Art & Self

    J. Howard Miller was an American artist during World War II. He is famous for the "We Can Do It" poster, which supports women and their involvement in the war efforts. Miller would be considered a graphic artist. The poster was made and released in 1943. The primary purpose of Miller's piece was to promote and support feminism in war times. Interestingly the post was not as popular during the early 1940s but was extremely popular in the 1980s. The photo made its way to a magazine cover and a postage stamp. According to some research, there are a few speculations about what Miller intended the poster's message to be for women. One of the photo's potential messages was to empower women to work harder during the war, and on the other hand, the opposing message was to encourage women to join. 

    Millers' work inspired me because, before the research, I  firmly believed that the photo was meant to inspire women. As a young adult in America, there are still many areas within our government that need to be more supportive and inclusive of women. Millers' work demonstrates strong women with her muscles and what seems to be a confident attitude. To me, the poster indicates that women can achieve greatness. Although Miller is not widely known, it is nice to see a taste of colorful art with such a strong intention.