Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case 3G, Shelf Drawer 7

The fascist crow has discovered, that to us - he is no eagle!

Poster
1944 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Viktor Deni had distinguished himself as a poster artist during the Russian Civil War (1918-1920) but afterwards concentrated on newspaper caricatures until there was again a need for propaganda for the Great Patriotic War, the name by which Russians referred to World War II. By 1944 the tide of war had turned in the Soviet Union's favour and the Germans were in retreat. The desperate mood of early war propaganda gave way to a more optimistic, even wryly humorous, anticipation of victory to which Deni's pungently wittly style was ideally suited. In this poster, the arm of a strong Russian soldier is seen strangling a Nazi crow. The image makes fun of Nazism and belittles the proud eagle which came to symbolise Nazism.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe fascist crow has discovered, that to us - he is no eagle! (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph on paper
Brief description
Printed Russian poster designed by Viktor Deni (Denisov), Second World War, 1944
Physical description
Rendered in black, white, red and khaki, the poster depicts a black crow dressed as a Nazi military officer whose feathers are ruffled as it tries to free itself from human grip. The image personnifies the confident Russian army as the strangulating human hand around the bird's weak neck. The bird's cap, belt and badges identify it as the representation of the Nazi forces. The bird carries its prey, a small female figure, in its left talons. The text across the top of the composition, printed in black and red, reads:
"The fascist crow has discovered, that to us - he is no eagle!"
Dimensions
  • Height: 56cm
  • Width: 41cm
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Summary
Viktor Deni had distinguished himself as a poster artist during the Russian Civil War (1918-1920) but afterwards concentrated on newspaper caricatures until there was again a need for propaganda for the Great Patriotic War, the name by which Russians referred to World War II. By 1944 the tide of war had turned in the Soviet Union's favour and the Germans were in retreat. The desperate mood of early war propaganda gave way to a more optimistic, even wryly humorous, anticipation of victory to which Deni's pungently wittly style was ideally suited. In this poster, the arm of a strong Russian soldier is seen strangling a Nazi crow. The image makes fun of Nazism and belittles the proud eagle which came to symbolise Nazism.
Other number
LS.582 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.279-2004

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Record createdJune 10, 2004
Record URL
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