World War II: 1945, Victory at Last Marines Raise Flag on Iwo Jima

Illustration of four soldiers lifting a flag pole

Artist: William H. Bond
Art director: Howard E. Paine
First day of issue: September 2, 1995

Gouache on board

William H. Bond adapted Joe Rosenthal’s famous black-and-white photograph for this artwork, choosing to render the background in bright orange for dramatic effect. A version of this image also appeared on an engraved stamp in July 1945, just five months after the actual flag-raising.

Art of the Stamp

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