Cross Out Slums | 1941

Cross Out Slums, 1941, by Lester Beall

The poster "Cross Out Slums" utilises striking visual symbolism on a bright blue background. It features a bold yellow hand representing the United States Housing Authority (USHA) holding a pen that draws a large white "X" across a red-tinted image of dilapidated housing conditions. The upper portion displays a yellow silhouette containing an image of improved housing with proper structures, creating a powerful visual contrast. The title "Cross Out Slums" appears in large white letters at the top, with "USHA" visible on the crossing pen, and Beall's signature visible in the bottom corner.

Created during the New Deal era, this poster was part of a campaign by the United States Housing Authority, established under the Housing Act of 1937 to address the nation's housing crisis. The USHA was designed to lend money to states and communities for low-cost construction, with the goal of eliminating slums and building new affordable housing. By 1941, when this poster was created, the agency was actively working to clear slum areas and develop new housing projects across America, though these efforts were often marked by racial segregation despite their progressive aims.

Lester Beall (1903-1969) was a pioneering American graphic designer who helped transform American commercial art into modern graphic design. Born in Kansas City and educated at the University of Chicago, Beall became known for his innovative use of European modernist techniques adapted for American audiences. In 1937, he became the first graphic designer to receive a one-man exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work for government agencies like the Rural Electrification Administration and the USHA demonstrated his distinctive style featuring bold primary colours, dynamic composition, photomontage, and clear typography – elements clearly visible in this powerful anti-slum propaganda poster.