At an Angle of 40 Degrees
Russia: Khudozhnik RSFSR, c. 1960s. Art by M. Mazrukho and Poem by V. Khochinsky. 13 x 17 ¼ in. Offset lithograph poster. Very good condition, mild edgewear and small inch stain to upper half of poster and some small closed tears. Item #POS101
This soviet agitprop poster warns against the incipient dangers of drinking. A poem featured in its upper left corner is titled “at an angle of 40 degrees,” (40 degrees being an idiomatic expression for moonshine) and loosely translates as “it’s easy to kill your family with moonshine/ and make your happy life joyless.” It was created by M. Mazrukho, an artist associated with the Boevoi Karadash (or “military pencil”), a collective of Leningrad based designers who became well-known between 1941 and 1945 for an important group of agitprop posters and satirical drawings. The group was revived in the mid-1950s and was active until at least the late 1970s. This work was part of a series entitled “what sort of behavior!” probably aimed against curtailing various anti-social behaviors, such as excess drinking. A vibrant example of soviet design from the later half of the 20th century.
Price: $150.00