Bold Dutch lettering—“NIET SPUWEN” (“Do not spit”)—dominates the upper field of this 1925 poster by Jacob Jansma, turning a simple warning into an arresting piece of graphic design. A hooded figure in dark clothing recoils and raises an arm, the dramatic pose guiding the eye back to the command at the top. With its limited palette, strong outlines, and clean negative space, the composition feels unmistakably modern for the interwar era and instantly readable at a distance.
Public health messaging sits at the heart of the artwork, reinforced by the smaller text below: “Door spuwen kunt gy besmettingsgevaar voor anderen veroorzaken.” The phrasing makes the point plain—spitting can create a risk of infection for others—while the visual language amplifies urgency without needing crowded scenes or medical imagery. A small badge bearing a red cross on the figure’s sleeve hints at organized health services and the civic responsibility being promoted.
Viewed today, Jansma’s poster offers a vivid window into everyday anxieties and municipal campaigns of the early twentieth century, when hygiene became a public concern communicated through street-facing art. Details like the printed number in the corner and the artist’s signature at the lower right evoke the serial, distributable nature of posters as mass media. For readers interested in historical poster art, Dutch design, and the history of public health communication, this piece remains striking—direct, memorable, and surprisingly contemporary in its clarity.