About this poster:
This vintage Soviet poster from 1921 is a powerful piece of propaganda promoting literacy. The artwork dramatically contrasts light and darkness to convey its message. A large crowd of diverse citizens, including workers, peasants, and soldiers, are shown eagerly reading books. They are emerging from thick, black clouds at the bottom of the composition, which symbolize the darkness of ignorance and illiteracy. Above them, a radiant sun rises, bathing them in golden light, representing the enlightenment and progress brought by education.
The poster's text reinforces this symbolism. The main headline in bold red Cyrillic letters reads, "Да здравствует солнце!" which translates to "Long live the sun!". Within the dark clouds at the bottom, another phrase reads, "Да скроется тьма!", meaning "May the darkness be hidden!". At the very top, the poster features the abbreviation for the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) and the famous communist slogan, "Proletarians of all countries, unite!". This poster was created for the Provincial Extraordinary Commission for the Liquidation of Illiteracy, part of a massive national campaign known as "likbez" initiated in 1919. The campaign aimed to rapidly educate the largely illiterate population of the new Soviet state, viewing literacy as essential for building a modern, industrialized, and ideologically cohesive society.
Explore the powerful visual language of Soviet-era design with this reproduction poster. Capturing the distinct artistic and ideological messages of its time, this piece offers a glimpse into a significant historical period. Professionally printed by Lumber City Prints on premium quality 230gsm Matte Photo Paper.
Please note: This listing is for the reproduction print only, frames are NOT included.
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About Lumber City Prints
Lumber City Prints produces fine art prints using archival quality inks and professional Canon and Epson print equipment.
Our collection of vintage images is carefully edited to repair damage, improve color quality, adjust size, and prepare for printing.
Our source images are at least 300dpi to produce each print as accurately as the original.
The resolution we print at is much higher quality than what is generally shown in previews.
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