FILTER RESULTS × Close
Skip to Content ☰ Open Filter >>

Our Good Earth

Showing 1 of 1


Our Good Earth

1942 - 1942
20th
60.13 in. x 48.13 in. (152.72 cm x 122.24 cm)

John Steuart Curry, United States, (1897–1946)

User Text 1 The U.S. Department of the Treasury asked John Steuart Curry to produce a war propaganda poster in 1941 as the country entered World War II. Though many posters used fear to inspire patriotism, Curry believed Americans would be more inspired by a positive image. For the commission, Curry painted Our Good Earth, which features the monumental figure of a white farmer standing in his fields flanked by two children who represent the future. The painting symbolizes the power of American agriculture to feed soldiers fighting to defend the country for future generations. For the poster, the government reproduced the painting with the caption, “Our Good Earth—Keep it Ours,” underscoring both U.S. nationalism and adding an element of threat.
Creation Place: North America, United States
Medium and Support: Oil on hardboard
Credit Line: Gift of the U.S. Treasury Department to the College of Agriculture to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Accession Number: 3.1999.1
Old University art collection number is 43.11.1. This painting belongs to the UW College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Gift of the U.S. Treasury Department to the College of Agriculture), but was given to the Chazen in 1999 on "permanent loan." Farmer with two children in tall field of wheat; blue sky with clouds; farmbuildings in distance; gold, blue, and tan.
Current Location: Chazen : Gallery : 20

Keywords Click a term to view the records with the same keyword
This object has the following keywords:

Additional Images Click an image to view a larger version

Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Dimensions
  • frame Dimensions: 71.25 x 59.13 x 4.13 in. (180.98 x 150.18 x 10.49 cm) Measured by Johanowicz, Steve

Bibliography List
This object has the following bibliographic references:

Portfolio List Click a portfolio name to view all the objects in that portfolio
This object is a member of the following portfolios:


Your current search criteria is: Object is "Our Good Earth".

View current selection of records as: