We Can Do It!
Buy this print on Etsy →One of the most recognisable images of the twentieth century, this is the legendary 'We Can Do It!' poster - the flexed-arm, polka-dot-bandana factory worker the whole world now knows as Rosie the Riveter. Created by the American commercial artist J. Howard Miller in 1943, her rolled-up sleeve, determined gaze and defiant slogan have become a universal symbol of strength, confidence and 'you've got this' resolve.
The poster's real history is a wonderful surprise. It was not, in fact, a famous wartime recruiting image at all: Miller made it for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation as one of a series of internal morale posters, and it hung in company factories for only a couple of weeks in 1943 before disappearing almost entirely. It was rediscovered decades later, in the 1980s, and adopted as an icon of the women's movement - going on to become one of the most reproduced and reinterpreted images in the world, a shorthand for empowerment on everything from mugs to murals.
Its power lies in its simplicity: the strong red, blue and yellow palette, the tight comic-book framing, the single rolled-up sleeve and clenched fist. It reads instantly from across a room, and it never fails to make an impression.
As wall art it is a genuine motivator. The bold colours and can-do spirit make it perfect for an office or home workspace, a workshop or gym, a girl's room or nursery, a kitchen or a gallery wall. It is a fantastic gift for strong women in your life, graduates, entrepreneurs, and anyone who loves feminist, retro or motivational art, and it pairs beautifully with other vintage Americana and typographic prints.
Because the original dates to 1943 and now resides in the public domain, we are able to reproduce it at full museum quality.
Each print is produced on premium 189 gsm museum-grade archival matte paper, faithfully capturing the punchy reds and blues and the bold graphic lines of the original - ready to frame and enjoy for years to come.
