Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky

The Patriotic propaganda postcard with verse by Vladimir Mayakovsky, created by Kazimir Malevich in 1914, is a vivid document of the early Russian response to World War I. Executed as a lithograph, this piece represents a critical moment when leading members of the Russian avant-garde engaged directly in nationalist efforts, adapting their modernist techniques for mass consumption.

Classified under the medium of Illustrated Book prints, the work’s design reflects the Cubo-Futurist influence prevalent in Malevich’s output just before he launched his Suprematist movement. Unlike his later purely abstract compositions, this design utilizes bold, simplified forms and graphic energy suitable for urgent wartime messaging. The accessibility afforded by the nature of these widely distributed prints made them instrumental in shaping public perception shortly after the conflict began in 1914.

The collaboration with Futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky underscores the synergy between artists and literary figures committed to the war effort. Mayakovsky's accompanying verse provided a direct, visceral political narrative that Malevich then complemented visually, demonstrating how the modernist desire to revolutionize art was temporarily harnessed toward political ends. This specific Russian cultural artifact captures Malevich's often-overlooked prolific output as an illustrator and graphic designer during a crucial transitional period in his career. The prints offer valuable insight into how Kazimir Malevich and his contemporaries utilized popular media to engage in public discourse. This significant example of early twentieth-century propaganda is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).