Request to view

This object can be requested via email from the Prints & Drawings Study Room

Václav Havel - Guarantee of Free Elections

Poster
1989 (designed and printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Václav Havel was a key figure in the 'Velvet Revolution' that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia and a founder of the opposition movement Civic Forum. His charismatic personality and leadership made him a focus of the country's hopes for a democratic future and his image inspired widespread loyalty. He was selected as president of Czechoslovakia by parliament in December 1989 and was re-elected as president by the Federal Assembly after the free elections in June 1990. In this poster Havel is presented in a suit as a statesman. Earlier posters had portrayed him as a world-worn but visionary dissident.


Designed, printed and published in former Czechoslovakia

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Václav Havel - Guarantee of Free Elections (generic title)
  • Pro-democracy Poster Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Offset photolithograph in black, blue and red printed on paper
Brief description
Presidential election poster for Václav Havel, printed and published in former Czechoslovakia, 1989.
Physical description
Poster promoting Václav Havel's (successful) candidacy for the office of President of Czechoslovakia. Printed in blue tones, it features a formal photographic portrait image with diagonal bands of white, red and blue, the Czech national colours, across the top left corner. Havel is wearing a jacket, white shirt and tie bearing a Santa Claus motif.
Dimensions
  • Maximum height: 60.1cm
  • Maximum width: 42.1cm
size of sheet
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • Václav Havel - záruka svobodných voleb (This is the slogan on the poster.)
    Translation
    Václav Havel - guarantee of free elections
  • FOTOGRAFIA ZLÍN - design studio F1 - TISK MTZ ZLÍN
Production
Designed, printed and published in former Czechoslovakia

Reason For Production: Commemorative
Subjects depicted
Places depicted
Summary
Václav Havel was a key figure in the 'Velvet Revolution' that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia and a founder of the opposition movement Civic Forum. His charismatic personality and leadership made him a focus of the country's hopes for a democratic future and his image inspired widespread loyalty. He was selected as president of Czechoslovakia by parliament in December 1989 and was re-elected as president by the Federal Assembly after the free elections in June 1990. In this poster Havel is presented in a suit as a statesman. Earlier posters had portrayed him as a world-worn but visionary dissident.


Designed, printed and published in former Czechoslovakia
Collection
Accession number
E.23-1991

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 8, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSON