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The Political Trial of the Pensioner Gyula Kristály from Ózd

Poster
1989 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

As communism began to crumble in Central and Eastern Europe, the issue of political opposition was discussed through literature, painting, photography and film. This poster advertises a documentary film from the Béla Balázs Studio which was famous for its bold artistic experiments. The film was directed in 1988 but could only be released in 1989. The subject of the film was Gyula Kristály, a desperate old man who sent letters through the post criticizing the political regime in Hungary and was sentenced to prison for inflammatory propaganda. His case was an example of the spontaneous revolt of an individual against the political system.

Krzysztof Ducki has chosen a simple, effective solution for the design of this poster. Using slightly uncertain black and white forms he creates a hazy alegorical figure of Justice holding the hammer and sickle (familiar symbols of communism) in her hands. She appears truly blind and unable to balance.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • The Political Trial of the Pensioner Gyula Kristály from Ózd
  • Pro-democracy Poster Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Offset lithograph printed on paper
Brief description
Poster by Krzysztof Ducki from the Pro-democracy Poster Collection. Hungary, late 1980s.
Physical description
Poster
Dimensions
  • Height: 80.8cm
  • Width: 56.9cm
Credit line
Given by Mücsarnok, Budapest, through Krisztina Jerger
Summary
As communism began to crumble in Central and Eastern Europe, the issue of political opposition was discussed through literature, painting, photography and film. This poster advertises a documentary film from the Béla Balázs Studio which was famous for its bold artistic experiments. The film was directed in 1988 but could only be released in 1989. The subject of the film was Gyula Kristály, a desperate old man who sent letters through the post criticizing the political regime in Hungary and was sentenced to prison for inflammatory propaganda. His case was an example of the spontaneous revolt of an individual against the political system.

Krzysztof Ducki has chosen a simple, effective solution for the design of this poster. Using slightly uncertain black and white forms he creates a hazy alegorical figure of Justice holding the hammer and sickle (familiar symbols of communism) in her hands. She appears truly blind and unable to balance.
Collection
Accession number
E.164-1991

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Record createdMarch 2, 2009
Record URL
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