“Glory to the victorious soldier!”: World War II posters from the Soviet Union 80 years later
In pre-revolutionary Russia, propaganda posters began to be published during World War I. Posters were produced in large quantities for that time, they were posted around the city, sent with weapons and ammunition to the front. Propaganda posters were already then an important part of people’s lives, contributing to the formation of a sense of patriotism. After the 1917 revolution, agitation became a mass phenomenon. Posters were one of the most popular means of mass agitation. Artists used posters to foster a sense of patriotism and love for their country, reflecting almost all aspects of life of an entire generation. Propaganda posters gained particular importance during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).
Wartime posters hoped to shape public opinion by creating a negative image of the enemy, arouse wrath, hatred of the conquerors, and at the same time cultivate love for the homeland, which must be defended. Artists of that time created stately, dramatic images, accompanying their works with apt phrases that stick in the memory.
The posters of the Great Patriotic War reflected the dynamics of military course. In the first two years of the war, the posters had a tragic tone. The German soldiers often portrayed as pathetic and helpless, and the Red Army fighters demonstrated the fighting spirit and moral superiority. In 1941-1942, as the enemy forces captured new cities, it was important for propagandists to instil confidence that the Nazis were not invincible. The plots of the first posters were full of attacks and emphasised the connection of the people with the army, urging them to destroy the enemy. Later as the soviet soldiers successfully progressed to expelling the enemy and marching toward Germany the tone, plots and mood of the posters became brighter and more optimistic.
Soviet war posters clearly showed its tragedy, setting a goal to strengthen the faith of the Soviet people in victory. Such artists as Viktor Koretsky, Nikolai Zhukov, Dmitry Moor, Viktor Deni, Alexei Kokorekin, Viktor Ivanov, the group of artists Kukryniksy, and the group of artists Okna TASS worked in this genre. Many posters of the Great Patriotic War are known to this day and became symbols of their era and true masterpieces of fine art.
The exhibition is organised on the 80 anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic war (1941-1945)
Venue: Room 182, 1st floor, River City Bangkok
Free Admission
*Since your safety is our prior concern, River City Bangkok is open as usual with strict preventive measures against the Covid-19 and limitation of visitors inside all exhibitions.
Open Daily From 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.