Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
¿Y Tú Qué Haces por Tu Patria?, 1939 Mexico poster: A worker in overalls stands beside a crane hook with a factory behind

¿Y Tú Qué Haces por Tu Patria?

A worker in overalls stands beside a crane hook with a factory behind him, under the question 'And you, what do you do for your homeland?'. The tell is the direct question that assigns a duty to the viewer while 'patria' is left undefined and no specific act is named.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Glittering generalities
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Secretaría de Gobernación (Mexico City); painting by David Arreola, executed by Luis Araiza
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); David Arreola; Luis Araiza, National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-873.

Text on the object

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

Y TU QUE HACES POR TU PATRIA?

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

[Translation: And you, what do you do for your homeland?]

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