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On the Eve of the World Revolution

Poster
1920 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In this Russian Bolshevik poster, designed by an unknown artist, the state, church and military are presented as monumental obstacles in the path of world revolution. In contrast, the torch weilding workers are energetic and dynamic. The poster was created at the height of the Russian Civil War, and three years after the 1917 October Revolution and offers encouragement to Russians that world revolution was still close at hand.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleOn the Eve of the World Revolution
Materials and techniques
Letterpress and lithograph
Brief description
Poster, 'On the Eve of the World Revolution', anonymous; Moscow, 1920
Physical description
Poster, printed in colours, depicting three statues representing the state, church and militray. At the base, bare chested men carrying burning torches are setting the staues alight.
Dimensions
  • Height: 109cm
  • Width: 72cm
Marks and inscriptions
Накануне Всемирной Революции
Translation
On the Eve of the World Revolution
Gallery label
(01/05/2014-02/11/2014)
In this Bolshevik poster the state, church and military are presented as monumental obstacles in the path of world revolution. In contrast, the torch wielding workers are energetic and dynamic. Created at the height of the Russian Civil War, and three years after the 1917 October Revolution, the poster offers encouragement that world revolution was still close at hand.

A World to Win: Posters of Protest and Revolution, V&A, Galleries 88a and 90, (1 May-2 Nov 2014)
Object history
Transferred from the British Museum.
Subjects depicted
Summary
In this Russian Bolshevik poster, designed by an unknown artist, the state, church and military are presented as monumental obstacles in the path of world revolution. In contrast, the torch weilding workers are energetic and dynamic. The poster was created at the height of the Russian Civil War, and three years after the 1917 October Revolution and offers encouragement to Russians that world revolution was still close at hand.
Bibliographic reference
Stephen White, The Bolshevik Poster, (Yale University Press, 1988), p.106
Other number
1921-2-10-11 - British Museum number
Collection
Accession number
E.734-2000

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Record createdApril 23, 2003
Record URL
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