Kazimir Malevich created the Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky in 1914. This lithograph, classified broadly within the category of an Illustrated Book, stands as a critical example of the intersection between avant-garde artistic production and wartime media distribution. The year 1914 marked the explosive start of World War I, and this piece demonstrates how leading Russian modernists utilized accessible, popular mediums like the postcard to disseminate government-sanctioned patriotic messages.
The work represents a striking collaboration between two seminal figures of Russian Modernism: Malevich, who conceived the visual design, and the renowned Futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, whose propagandistic verse provided the accompanying text. The medium of lithography was ideal for mass production, facilitating the rapid creation and wide distribution of these wartime prints throughout the Russian Empire. While Malevich is internationally recognized for his later, highly abstract Suprematist compositions, this earlier piece demonstrates his command of narrative and figurative drawing, adapted specifically for immediate public engagement and political commentary.
This specific genre of illustrated Russian war print frequently referenced traditional lubok folk art, combining its robust graphic clarity with a modernist edge to ensure maximum appeal during the intense conflict of 1914. The piece serves as a potent cultural document, capturing the often-contradictory role of the avant-garde in nationalistic efforts. Although the original lithograph resides in the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the nature of its initial production as a widely circulated postcard means that various copies and high-quality images have frequently entered the public domain. This work is historically significant, confirming Malevich’s early career trajectory as he applied his innovative techniques to the urgent demands of national conflict.
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