Echo of the Aurora

A poster by Rudolf Altrichter (1916–1978) shows us an exceptional work of typography expressing extreme homage to a political festival implanted by the Soviet comrades: the Bolshevik putsch known as the Great October Socialist Revolution.

The combination of extreme servility and progressive design was on the one hand a response to the weariness and emptiness of state rhetoric — in the same year (1967) as the poster was produced, the Department and Commission of the Political Poster in the Union of Visual Artists ceased to function, and the exhibiting activity specialising in the propagandist poster ceased also (for a while).

Concurrently, the revolts of the 1960s produced a confident, powerfully artistic and activist type of art poster with a worldwide scope. These processes were occurring on both sides of the Iron Curtain, though with a different dynamics and power.

In Slovakia one who notably caught this alternative wind in his sails was Rudolf Altrichter. He promoted the autonomy of the poster as creative artistic space with universal socio-political themes, such as for example the threats of war, which are only pro forma associated with the “style” of real socialism. One must add, however, in the same breath that he was also an exceptionally adept exponent of Communist Party propaganda.

Viera Kleinová ● “Seven Things About…” propaganda in the Collection of Posters and Graphic Design (medium.com)