Life — May 2, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a Liberty Loan advertisement from Life magazine, likely from 1918 (Third Liberty Loan). The illustration shows a soldier in military uniform beside Lady Liberty (depicted as a woman in classical dress holding a "Liberty" bond). The caption reads "We are coming, Father Abraham, five billion dollars strong"—a reference to Lincoln and a call for patriotic financial support. The "Last Call" text urges Americans to subscribe to war bonds before the May 4th deadline, framing it as a patriotic duty and moral obligation. The advertisement suggests that subscribing, regardless of amount, ensures an "unsullied patriotic record" after the war ends. This represents WWI-era propaganda using emotional appeals and patriotic rhetoric to encourage civilian financial investment in the war effort.