Soviet Worker's Festival

Created by Ukrainian artist V. F. Bakin and published in Kyiv in early 1986, this Soviet propaganda poster encourages participation in the All-Union Lenin Communist Subbotnik, a nationwide day of collective labor. The tradition began in 1919, when workers volunteered their time on Saturdays in support of the new Soviet state, and eventually became a recurring symbol of socialist cooperation and civic duty. The Ukrainian headline, “Всі на Свято Праці!” translates to “Everyone to the Festival of Labor!” A worker strides forward beneath a sweeping rainbow, an optimistic symbol of progress and collective achievement frequently used in Soviet visual culture. Bold geometric lettering and strong diagonal forms give the composition a distinctly modern appearance while reflecting the continued influence of Constructivist design on Soviet graphic art. Published by the Political Publishing House of Ukraine, the poster was printed in a run of 86,000 for widespread public distribution. Its Ukrainian-language text distinguishes it from the Russian-language propaganda produced and circulated more broadly throughout the Soviet Union. Dated January 1986, the poster comes from the beginning of the Gorbachev era and the early period of perestroika. It was produced only months before the Chernobyl disaster profoundly affected Soviet Ukraine and public confidence in the government, giving its exceptionally optimistic vision of collective progress an interesting historical context within the final years of the Soviet Union. Size: 34.5" x 24.0" Artist: V. F. Bakin Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear, fading and toning. Original fold lines present. Areas of creasing near original fold lines. Creasing in areas of border. Light areas of scattered background creases. Horizontal bend in lower right border. Please use the photo zoom feature to get a better understanding of overall condition. *Additional photos available upon request.