The Bird That Fought a War: Ben Shahn's Iconic 1968 Peace Poster

Ready-to-hang: Includes hanging kit, ready to hang directly on the wall.
Frame Material: Durable pine wood.
Frame Measurements: 20-25mm (0.79"-0.98") thick, 10-14mm (0.4"-0.6") wide.
Paper Weight: 200 gsm (80 lb), thickness: 0.22 mm (8.7 mils).
Paper Finishing: Matte, smooth, non-reflective surface.
Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the poster.
Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified materials or equivalent.

This is the famous 1968 political poster created by the celebrated American artist Ben Shahn. The artwork features a stylized dove—a universal symbol of peace—drawn with Shahn's characteristic expressive, calligraphic black line. The bird is filled with diagonal red, white, and blue stripes, powerfully reframing the call for peace as a patriotic act. Below the image, the single word "PEACE" stands out in bold, blue capital letters. The poster is a masterful combination of a heartfelt, humanistic art style and a clear, direct graphic message.

Historical Tidbit

This poster was created by the artist Ben Shahn, a lifelong social activist, for the insurgent 1968 presidential campaign of the anti-Vietnam War candidate, Senator Eugene McCarthy. Shahn was nearing the end of his life and was a giant of the American art world; his support lent immense credibility to the burgeoning peace movement. The poster became an iconic symbol of the era, appearing at rallies and on college campuses across the nation. Its genius was in wrapping the peace dove in the colors of the American flag, arguing that ending the war was not an anti-American act, but a deeply patriotic one.

Our sturdy wooden framed posters come ready to hang and are printed on heavyweight white matte paper with a smooth, luxurious finish—designed to stand the test of time: