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In the Shipyard by Gibson, Charles Dana, 1867-1944, artist
Public domain · digitally restored by comicbooks.com
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In the Shipyard

Gibson, Charles Dana, 1867-1944, artist · c. 1915, published in Life

Two workmen grip a two-man crosscut saw and bear down on the prow of a submarine, severing it cleanly. The vessel flies what the catalog identifies as both a pirate flag and a German flag; in the middle distance a steamship and industrial waterfront stretch across the horizon. One figure represents Uncle Sam, the other Labor—the pairing argues that American national identity and the working class share a common interest in resisting Germany's 1915 proclamation of unrestricted submarine warfare, which had begun sinking neutral and civilian vessels. The composition is stripped of caricature: both men are rendered as capable, determined tradesmen. The political point is blunt—democratic industry will simply cut the threat off at the bow.

About this artifact

Creator
Gibson, Charles Dana, 1867-1944, artist
Date
c. 1915, published in Life
Rights
Public domain — free to view, share, and reuse.
Restoration
Digitally restored and hosted by comicbooks.com.

Part of our mission to preserve and restore the public-domain heritage of the medium.