subject: Soviet Poster Art - A Slice Of Soviet History [print this page] In 1917, the Bolsheviks grabbed the reins of power in Russia with the purpose of changing Russia into the world's first socialist society, the Soviet Union. In order to successfully build a socialist state, the regime depended on disseminating the message of the Bolsheviks. The problem was that a majority of the country was illiterate. The solution amounted to the creation of visual messages in the form of political and social posters that the uneducated populace could easily understand and incorporate into their daily lives. A Soviet poster, is not only a slice of socialist history, but is a look into the lives of the Soviet people at that time.
Now, since the fall of the Soviet Union, Soviet poster art does not educate the populace of the former Soviet Union, but instead educates those outside of the Soviet Union on what it was like to live in a closed socialist state. Soviet poster art not only depicts political messages about the great value of socialism, but also disseminated health information, information about the importance of education and the importance of hard work. The Soviet posters changed over the years as trends changed and new wars were waged. For instance, in the 1960's poster art took a decidedly modern turn.
True Soviet poster art can be not only valuable collector items for individuals, but also many institutes of higher education value the art form as a means of understanding and appreciating the Soviet culture and history. Some posters have been donated to colleges and universities for educational purposes. Typically, a large collection in prime condition that comes along with the translations from Russian to English can be an attractive addition to any collector's poster art collection and can be quite rare as well as valuable.
Many of the more common Soviet poster art pieces have been reprinted thereby creating a less expensive form of the art for consumption by the masses. Interestingly, inasmuch as the original Soviet poster art was meant for consumption by the masses, it only seems fitting that some of these posters have been preserved and reprinted for anyone who wants to purchase it. Soviet poster art reprints can cost as little as $30.00, while more expensive, rarer posters run upwards of $1,000.00. If you are just starting out with Soviet poster art, then a reprint can be a good option. As you study and develop and eye for Soviet poster art, you can add rarer, more expensive vintage Soviet art prints to your collection.
