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Object Timeline

1942

  • Work on this object began.

1963

  • We acquired this object.

2013

2015

2024

  • You found it!

Poster, Libertad de Cultos (Freedom of Worship)

This is a Poster. It was designed by E. McKnight Kauffer and made for (as the client) Office of War Information. It is dated 1942 and we acquired it in 1963. Its medium is offset lithograph on wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Edward McKnight Kauffer, a pioneer in modern advertising design, was commissioned by Nelson A. Rockefeller of the Office of Inter-American Affairs to create posters for Latin America. The purpose of these posters was to persuade Latin American opinion against the Axis powers of WWII, in order to increase solidarity of the Western hemisphere. The image of the white Latin cross represents the Freedom of Religion, one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four freedoms, stated to the United States Congress in January, 1941.

This object was donated by Mrs. Edward McKnight Kauffer. It is credited Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.

  • Poster, Chambara
  • offset lithography, screenprint on paper.
  • Gift of Koga Hirano.
  • 1995-104-1
  •

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

50.6 × 36.2 cm (19 15/16 × 14 1/4 in.)

It is signed

Imprinted lower right: E.McKnight-Kauffer / '42

It is inscribed

Imprinted in orange across lower section: UNA DE LAS CUATRO LIBERTADES / POR LAS QUE LUCHAN LOS ALIADOS

Cite this object as

Poster, Libertad de Cultos (Freedom of Worship); Designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, active England, 1890–1954); Client: Office of War Information; USA; offset lithograph on wove paper; 50.6 × 36.2 cm (19 15/16 × 14 1/4 in.); Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer; 1963-39-129

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition How Posters Work.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18447251/ |title=Poster, Libertad de Cultos (Freedom of Worship) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>