Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky

The Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky was created by Kazimir Malevich in 1914. Executed as a lithograph, this work functions as a potent example of Russian wartime mass media. Classified within the category of an Illustrated Book/print series, the piece captures a critical moment in early Soviet and avant-garde history. Malevich, better known for his later development of Suprematism, temporarily channeled his artistic energy into generating accessible political art during the outbreak of World War I.

This collaborative effort with the renowned Futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky aligns the visual arts with contemporary literary radicalism for nationalist aims. The work combines Malevich’s bold graphic design, which often drew influence from popular Russian lubok prints, with Mayakovsky’s direct, morale-boosting verse. These postcards were widely distributed, serving to mobilize public sentiment shortly after the commencement of the Great War in 1914. Malevich’s use of simplified forms and vibrant coloring ensured maximum visual impact, fitting the rapid production requirements characteristic of propaganda prints commissioned during the period.

The context of 1914 places this piece squarely within the intersection of the burgeoning Russian avant-garde and mass communication. While stylistically different from Malevich’s later abstract canvases, the propaganda pieces demonstrate the artist's versatility and his willingness to engage directly with current political events. As a document of cultural and political history, this lithograph is invaluable for understanding the mobilization of the arts in revolutionary-era Russia. The work currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), making it accessible for scholarly study alongside other important Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky prints potentially available in the public domain.