Power on the Farm — Lester Beall, 1940

Lester Beall's Power on the Farm is a bold 1940 poster created for the Rural Electrification Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture. A farm worker operates an electric grinding machine in the foreground, transforming the practical benefits of rural electricity into a powerful image of agricultural modernization.

Beall combines black-and-white photographic imagery with rhythmic blue-and-cream stripes, a brilliant orange title panel and forceful typography. The contrast between documentary photography and flat geometric forms gives the composition its distinctive modernist energy, while the electrically powered machinery embodies a period of profound technological change across rural America.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Lester Beall (1903–1969)
• Title: Power on the Farm
• Original title: Power on the farm: Rural Electrification Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Series: Posters: Artist Posters / Rural Electrification Administration
• Date: 1940
• Period: American Modernism / 1940s
• Place of Origin: United States
• Medium: Color print (poster)

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.