Joan’s image has permeated world culture as both symbol and inspiration. She represents political freedom, female empowerment, and patriotism. The very name of Joan of Arc has become a synonym for any determined woman who clings to her convictions despite the risks.
Joan’s popularity as an instrument of advertising began at the turn of the twentieth century when improved printing techniques led to the expanded use of advertising in newspapers, magazines, and posters. Early advertising images were derived from art and history, and artistic depictions of Joan became a commercial commodity. Joan of Arc-brand kidney beans came onto the market in 1879. Joan of Arc cheese was first imported to the American market from France in 1918.
Joan of Arc was an important image during World War I. French soldiers wore Joan of Arc medals into battle. Songbooks for American soldiers included a song with the title “Joan of Arc” that called on Joan to send down the dove of Peace and bring an end to the misery of war. A famous poster by Haskell Coffin from 1918 shows a glamorous Joan urging American women to buy war savings stamps. The first major film about Joan of Arc to be made in the twentieth century, Cecil B. DeMille’s epic Joan the Woman (1916), was an effective recruitment tool in the United States. It depicted Joan of Arc as a courageous woman who sacrifices marriage and domestic happiness for the good of her country. Her story is framed by that of a young English soldier fighting in France. Joan’s story inspires him to go bravely to his death.
World History
