Description
Teamwork Builds Ships – William Dodge Stevens, 1918
This 1918 lithograph captures the raw power of industrial collaboration during World War One. Three steelworkers bolt the hull of a ship together against a blazing orange and deep blue sky. Their muscles strain. Their focus is absolute. The message is unmistakable: Teamwork Builds Ships.
The Message of Industrial Unity
The poster was created for the U.S. Shipping Board and Emergency Fleet Corporation. The message was direct: America’s victory depended on workers. Not generals. Not politicians. Workers.
William Dodge Stevens understood this. He didn’t paint abstract patriotism. He painted sweat, bolts, and determination. Teamwork Builds Ships became a rallying cry for industrial America during the final year of the war.
Why This Poster Matters
The Emergency Fleet Corporation needed 50 million tons of cargo shipping capacity. They needed it fast. The poster told American workers their labor was essential—it was the difference between Allied victory and defeat.
The composition is masterful. Three figures work as one organism. The orange glow suggests heat, energy, urgency. The blue creates tension. Every element drives toward a single purpose: collaboration under pressure.
About William Dodge Stevens
Stevens was a master of industrial propaganda. He knew how to make labor look heroic—not through false glorification, but through honest depiction of strength and purpose.
This is an original lithograph from 1918, professionally linen-backed.
Certificate of Authenticity included. IVPDA certified dealer.
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