Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky

The Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky was created by Kazimir Malevich in 1914. This lithograph, classified within the broader context of the illustrated book genre, exemplifies the rapid mobilization of Russian avant-garde artists at the onset of World War I. During this period, Malevich temporarily put aside his developing abstract interests to produce highly accessible, popular imagery designed to support the national war effort. Collaborating with the Futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, who provided the accompanying text, the work adopts the visual aesthetic of the traditional Russian lubok print.

The use of the lubok style was a deliberate choice by Malevich to ensure the propaganda message reached a wide segment of the Russian public. These visual appeals often utilized bright colors, bold outlines, and satirical or heroic depictions of figures engaged in conflict. These mass-produced prints functioned as highly effective visual communication tools in 1914, distributing powerful messages quickly and cheaply across the empire. While Malevich is primarily remembered for his later Suprematist abstractions, this piece demonstrates his versatility and active engagement with contemporary political demands. The synergy between Malevich's graphic design and Mayakovsky’s terse, forceful verse created immediate, didactic imagery intended to boost national morale and justify the conflict.

Although categorized as an Illustrated Book element due to its nature as a print publication, this work exists as a singular propaganda postcard. It offers critical insight into the often-overlooked commercial and political output of major avant-garde figures. Today, the work is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). As a historic lithograph from 1914, this early example of Malevich's politically engaged graphic design remains a significant cultural document, widely studied for its dual artistic and functional purpose. The legacy of these influential wartime Russian prints continues, with many early versions now falling into the public domain, allowing broader access to this unique historical collaboration.