Molodaya Gvardiya [The Youth Guard], an advertising Constructivist photomontage poster promoting the Molodaya Gvardiya literary magazine. Molodaya Gvardiya Publishing, Moscow, c. 1931-1932, 70.5 x 53.5 cm.

By far the best-known Molodaya Gvardiya advertising campaign poster was produced in 1924 by Alexandr Rodchenko. The artist probably would not object to putting his name on this poster as well.

This describer could not recall seeing another Soviet poster composed primarily of the photographs of men of letters. Such an unusual artifact should also be of interest to students of Soviet literature. Note the photographs of (then young) major Soviet poets - Svetlov, Zabolotsky, Bezymensky.

The poster's dating is somewhat tentative. Judging by its style, it is unlikely that it was produced after 1932. At the same time, it could not have been produced before 1931, since it lists Anna Karavayeva as the magazine's Editor-in-Chief. Karavayeva was brought in to run the magazine in 1931 as part of the editorial shakeup caused by the publication of an editorial that had enraged Stalin.

Search extension words: Russian poster, Soviet poster.