Slums Breed Crime | 1941

Slums Breed Crime, 1941, by Lester Beall

This striking poster by Lester Beall features a powerful photomontage juxtaposing images of urban poverty and crime. The composition is divided into contrasting sections, with a black-and-white background showing dilapidated buildings and a police van, while a bold red overlay in the shape of a handcuff dominates the centre. The message "Slums Breed Crime" is prominently displayed across the top in stark typography, reinforcing the poster’s urgent call for action. The lower text credits the United States Housing Authority.

Created in 1941, this poster was part of a broader campaign by the United States Housing Authority (USHA) to promote public housing and slum clearance projects. During the Great Depression and into the early 1940s, the USHA aimed to replace unsafe, overcrowded housing with modern, affordable alternatives, reducing crime and improving living standards. The poster reflects the era’s belief in social engineering and government intervention to address systemic urban problems.

Lester Beall (1903–1969) was a pioneering American graphic designer known for his bold, modernist approach to visual communication. Influenced by European avant-garde movements like Constructivism and the Bauhaus, Beall brought a striking, abstract sensibility to American advertising and government propaganda. He was particularly adept at using photomontage, geometric shapes, and high-contrast colours to create eye-catching compositions. His work for the US government, including posters for the Rural Electrification Administration, helped define mid-20th-century American graphic design and remains highly influential today.