Soviet posters exploited images of women quite a bit - they were portrayed as collective farmers, exemplary workers, mothers and active members of society. But what were the images of men on posters like and what were they supposed to convey?
The military was allotted a particular place in Soviet propaganda posters. At the time of the Civil War, posters called on men to join the ranks of the Red Army and fight for the cause of the Revolution. Later, there were posters extolling the might of the army and its heroic soldiers.
1. “Have you signed up as a volunteer?”
Dmitry Moor, 1920
2. “Long live the Red Army - the armed detachment of the proletarian revolution!”
Vasily Elkin, 1932
3. “Glory to the Soviet soldiers standing guard over the Motherland!”
S. Gorlishchev, 1978
One of the main purposes of propaganda was to rally people to the cause of collectivization and industrialization. Soviet people were urged to join a collective farm, work in a factory and build houses (as well as a bright future) together.
4. “Come to our collective farm, comrade”
Vera Korablyova, 1930
5. “Collective and individual farmers! We shall hand the grain over to the state as pledged, fully and on time!”
Viktor Govorkov, 1933
6. “Oil workers, more oil for the Motherland! Let’s fulfil the five-year plan in 4 years!”
Pyotr Krivonogov, 1948
7. “Experienced workers, don’t mock the young. Let’s teach the young worker and give him a leg up.”
I. Yang, A. Chernomordik, 1930
8. “Building fast, durably, cheaply and beautifully - our contribution to the cause of peace”
F. Ignatyev, USSR, 1951
The images of leaders Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin were also exploited on a very wide scale, as well as the ideologists of Communism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
9. “A specter is haunting Europe - the specter of Communism”
Valentin Shcherbakov, 1920
10. “Lenin and electrification. Volkhovstroy power plant, give us current. Communism is Soviet power + electrification.”
Yuly Shass, Vasily Kobelev, 1925
11. “The captain of the Land of the Soviets steers us from victory to victory!”
Boris Efimov, 1933
12. “Raise higher the banner of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin!”
Gustav Klutsis, 1936
Posters from the time of World War II had a particularly expressive power. Minimum words and details - but maximum meaning.
13. “I’m proud of my son!”
Viktor Govorkov, 1941
14. “Our land is famed for its warrior heroes”
Viktor Govorkov, 1941
15. “The people and army are invincible!”
Viktor Koretsky, 1941
16. “How have you helped the front?”
Dmitry Moor, 1941
Soviet men needed to be strong and healthy, of course, and so there was widespread propaganda about the benefits of physical exercise and sport and the need to toughen up. Over-eating and alcohol were condemned.
17. “A healthy spirit requires a healthy body. K. Voroshilov”
Aleksandr Deyneka, 1939
18. “If you want to be healthy, toughen up”
Viktor Koretsky, Vera Gitsevich, 1950
19. “Have a varied diet, eat regularly and in moderation. To get fat is to get old!”
Boris Reshetnikov, 1958
20. “No!”
Viktor Govorkov, 1954