[ M1697 ] Original 1916 Dutch poster no 61

Description

Poster shows character of Mars, the Roman god of war operating a press machine on a long table that spills out coins below. In the background are shadowy flat figures of people hanging from hooks along a metal conveyer rack. A surprised elderly gentleman wearing a top hat and fur lined overcoat looks on and drops his walking stick. Additional caption reads: "Mars: Ga hier maar alvast tusschenliggen ..." [Mars speaks: Go on ahead, lie down here in between]. The special tax in the Netherlands to fund capital projects also squeezed money from the wealthy Dutch who were hard pressed from other costs of war.