Kiss Me, You Fool!

If you are planning to pucker up with your honey this Valentine's Day, make sure your breath is fresher than this guy's!

At first glance, Seymour Chwast's poster is a humorous reminder for better oral hygiene. But look more closely in Uncle Sam's mouth. Far from a simple case of halitosis, some serious warfare is being waged.

This Vietnam-era poster from the collection of the Pushpin Group, both whimsical and deadly serious, reminds us of the power of the visual image. This and other posters made in the United States can be viewed in our online exhibition Posters American Style.

Pictured: Seymour Chwast, born 1931, End Bad Breath, 1967, offset lithograph, 37 11/16 x 25 3/16 in., Collection of the Pushpin Group.