The anonymous 1870 poster Heraus mit dem work, wen es wahr ist, hinab mit de trunk, wenn er klar ist. centres upon a jovial drinker raising a foaming beer mug. Dressed in a blue tunic with gold-toned trim and bright yellow trousers, he stands boldly against a pale blue sky, framed by green ivy, wheat stalks and emphatic bands of lettering. The palette is deliberately direct: saturated blue and yellow meet the deep red of the upper banner, giving the vertically arranged composition an immediate, festive energy.

Its curious, dialect-like title and accompanying English wording belong to the humorous register of nineteenth-century popular print culture. Such inexpensive graphic works combined entertainment, advertising and public commentary, relying upon memorable slogans and strongly simplified imagery to reach a broad audience. Here, language is not secondary to the illustration: the verbal joke, the raised mug and the decorative abundance work together, turning an endorsement of a “pure” drink into a compact piece of visual theatre.

A closer look

The figure dominates the foreground, his pose almost heraldic in its directness. One arm lifts the mug towards the upper banner, while the bright costume divides his body into broad fields of blue and yellow. Small details prevent this graphic simplicity from becoming flat: the collar carries intricate golden decoration, the trousers are patterned, and subtle shading gives shape to the face and its convivial expression. The beer’s uneven crown of foam provides a particularly tactile note, contrasting with the mug’s smooth, reflective surface.

Above him, the red ribbon unfurls in generous curves, its decorative script following the movement of the fabric-like form. Ivy enters at the upper left, softening the edge with clustered green leaves, while the wheat at the right creates a balancing vertical accent. These natural motifs do more than fill the margins: they form a loose ornamental frame around the drinker and connect the slogan visually with the beverage at the centre.

The lower section shifts from illustration to proclamation. Set in firm blue lettering, the English lines read: “Out with the word if true and free, Down with the drink, if pure it be!” The contrast between the flourishing banner above and the weightier text below establishes a clear graphic hierarchy. Yellow-and-blue border motifs contain the whole arrangement, while the limited sense of depth keeps attention fixed on colour, contour and message rather than on a fully described setting.

Context and significance

Produced at a time when printed imagery was becoming an increasingly familiar presence in everyday life, this poster reflects the close relationship between commerce and amusement in late nineteenth-century visual culture. Its maker is unrecorded, but anonymity was common among popular prints intended for broad circulation rather than recognition as individual works of fine art. Their effectiveness depended upon clarity: a legible central character, forceful colour contrasts and a phrase that could be quickly understood or remembered.

The bilingual character of the wording gives this example an additional comic texture. Rather than presenting beverage promotion in a restrained or informational manner, it adopts the cadence of a toast or public refrain. The result is at once decorative and performative: a raised mug, a flourish of red lettering and a slogan seemingly designed to be spoken aloud. Even before every word is read, the poster communicates conviviality through its vivid colour, frontal pose and exuberant framing.

Choosing the right size and finish

Artwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.

If you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, ask our workshop for advice.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.

Choose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. See examples of our Aged artwork.

Every piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.

Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.

Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, contact our workshop.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.