Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Trabajo Fortaleza de Nuestras Fronteras, 1939 Mexico poster: Two industrial workers handle a suspended foundry ladle among

Trabajo Fortaleza de Nuestras Fronteras

Two industrial workers handle a suspended foundry ladle among chains and glowing metal, under the slogan 'Work, fortress of our borders'. The tell is the slogan, which equates labour with national defence without giving a target, quota or task.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Glittering generalities
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Secretaría de Gobernación (Mexico City); artist Luis Araiza (signed Jan d'Ega)
Region
Latin America
Country
Mexico
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Avila Camacho Government
Leader
Manuel Avila Camacho
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
Labor, Home front
Event
World War II
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Held by NARA, Unrestricted; Mexican government poster, hosted by owner decision
Secretaría de Gobernación (Mexico); artist Luis Araiza, National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-872.

Text on the object

Original (Spanish) · read from the image, not independently checked

TRABAJO
FORTALEZA DE
NUESTRAS FRONTERAS

SECRETARIA DE GOBERNACION, BUCARELI No. 99.—MEXICO, D. F.
Realizado por Luis Araiza
GIFT OF CENTRAL OUTDOOR ADVERTISING CO.

[Translation: Work, fortress of our borders.]

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