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We are the People [Wir sind das Volk]
Poster
1989 (Printed and published)
1989 (Printed and published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Poster issued in support of popular protest against the Communist regime. 'Wir sind das Volk' was the principal slogan of the pro-democracy street demonstrations in the main cities of East Germany in 1989 and was first used on 9 October 1989. It changed to 'Wir sind ein Volk' in November 1989, reflecting popular pressure against East/West separation and the desire for self-determination; the pun in this slogan preserves East Germnay identity and integrity at the same time as expressing a larger whole. On 28 November 1989, leading East German artists and intellectuals signed a petition 'For our country', calling for a 'socialist alternative to the Federal Republic'. However, 'Wir sind ein Volk' was taken up by the right-wing parties in their election campaign to promote immediate unification of Germany.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Title | We are the People [Wir sind das Volk] (published title) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Poster, Wir sind das Volk [We are the People], by Rainer G. Schumacher, East Germany, 1989. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | This object is part of a group of graphics inspired by the pro-democracy movement in East Germany in 1989 and 1990, which saw popular demonstrations result in the overthrow of the Communist government, led by Egon Krenz, culminatinng in the free elections of 18 March 1990. All the material, which covers a wide range of the political parties and movements that took part in these events, was gathered by V&A Curator Margaret Timmers in East Berlin in the week preceding these elections. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Poster issued in support of popular protest against the Communist regime. 'Wir sind das Volk' was the principal slogan of the pro-democracy street demonstrations in the main cities of East Germany in 1989 and was first used on 9 October 1989. It changed to 'Wir sind ein Volk' in November 1989, reflecting popular pressure against East/West separation and the desire for self-determination; the pun in this slogan preserves East Germnay identity and integrity at the same time as expressing a larger whole. On 28 November 1989, leading East German artists and intellectuals signed a petition 'For our country', calling for a 'socialist alternative to the Federal Republic'. However, 'Wir sind ein Volk' was taken up by the right-wing parties in their election campaign to promote immediate unification of Germany. |
| Associated object | E.2146-1990 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.2066-1990 |
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| Record created | February 23, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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