Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Boris Efimov
1973 original soviet poster by Boris Efimov No to Nuclear War!

1973

$1,659.21
£1,238.89
€1,400
CA$2,275.71
A$2,557.74
CHF 1,332
MX$31,108.48
NOK 17,044.63
SEK 16,163.34
DKK 10,657.65
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Boris Efimov, a renowned Soviet political cartoonist and poster artist, became widely known for his incisive and impactful works during the 20th century. His art often carried strong political messages, particularly reflecting the tensions of the Cold War era. One of his most notable works is the 1973 poster Bombe Nucléaire, which boldly condemns the threat of nuclear warfare. The poster, created during a period of heightened international anxiety, is a powerful visual statement advocating for peace and disarmament. The message of Bombe Nucléaire is direct and uncompromising: “No to Nuclear War!” The poster’s composition features a large, defused nuclear bomb rendered in stark black, its broken form wrapped in a white cloth, symbolizing the desire to neutralize and render inert the devastating power of such weapons. The bold, red lettering of the word "Нет!" ("No!") reinforces the poster's anti-nuclear message, leaving no room for ambiguity. Efimov’s use of color and imagery is significant. The contrast between the bomb's dark, menacing form and the clean, white cloth wrapping it highlights the tension between destruction and peace. The simplicity of the design ensures that the message is easily understood, making it accessible to a wide audience. The red text, set against a calm blue background, draws the viewer’s attention immediately, emphasizing the urgency of rejecting nuclear conflict. During the early 1970s, the world was entrenched in the Cold War, a period marked by an arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The threat of nuclear war loomed large, influencing art, culture, and politics. Efimov’s poster captures the fears of this era while also promoting the global disarmament movement. His work served as a visual rallying cry for peace, aligning with the broader Soviet narrative of advocating for détente and reduced international tensions, even as the superpowers continued to stockpile weapons. Efimov’s career was characterized by his ability to distill complex political messages into powerful visual symbols. His work in Bombe Nucléaire is a prime example of this skill, using stark, simple imagery to communicate a deeply urgent message. The anthropomorphic treatment of the bomb—giving it a sense of defeat or harmlessness—further humanizes the issue, suggesting that disarmament is both necessary and achievable. This poster is more than a piece of propaganda; it is an artifact of a specific moment in history when the world was grappling with the potentially catastrophic consequences of nuclear war. The 1970s saw numerous attempts at arms control, including the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the eventual signing of the SALT I treaty in 1972. Bombe Nucléaire aligns with these global efforts, encapsulating the desire for a world free from the fear of nuclear annihilation. In the context of Boris Efimov’s broader body of work, Bombe Nucléaire stands out as a testament to his ability to wield art as a tool for social and political commentary. His posters, characterized by their clarity and impact, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and promoting state messages during the Soviet era. Decades later, Bombe Nucléaire remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for peace in a world where nuclear weapons continue to pose a threat. Efimov’s work endures not only as a piece of historical propaganda but also as a symbol of the universal desire for a world without war. The simplicity and power of his message resonate even today, serving as a call to action for future generations to continue the pursuit of disarmament and peace. Caricature - Politics - USSR Printed in Russia
  • Creator:
    Boris Efimov
  • Creation Year:
    1973
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35.44 in (90 cm)Width: 23.63 in (60 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Good condition, a small tear.
  • Gallery Location:
    PARIS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1792215687642

More From This Seller

View All
Original 1967 Soviet propaganda poster People of the World, Be Vigilant! USSR
Located in PARIS, FR
This is an original 1967 Soviet propaganda poster by V. Karakashev, a powerful example of Cold War-era graphic art and geopolitical messaging. Created during a period of heightened t...
Category

1960s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

1975 Original Soviet poster by Viktor Koretsky - No to fascism
By Viktor Koretsky
Located in PARIS, FR
This original Soviet poster by Viktor Koretsky was published in Moscow in 1975, during the height of the Cold War. A powerful piece by one of the USSR’s most iconic political poster ...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

1972 Original Soviet propaganda poster - Our coal provides! - Cold War - USSR
Located in PARIS, FR
The original Soviet poster titled "Beaucoup pensent, mais ne savent pas ce que notre charbon fournit !" ("Many think, but do not know what our coal provides!") was created in 1972 as...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper, Linen

1972 soviet poster by the legendary Viktor Koretsky - Let’s Preserve and Raise!
By Viktor Koretsky
Located in PARIS, FR
A luminous artifact of Soviet visual propaganda, this 1972 poster by the legendary Viktor Koretsky embodies the powerful optimism and ideological clarity of late-stage socialist realism. Titled “Сохраним и вырастим!” — “Let’s Preserve and Raise!” — the poster was part of a campaign promoting agricultural productivity and humane animal husbandry during the Brezhnev-era push for rural modernization. Rendered in Koretsky’s unmistakable photomontage style, the composition presents a radiant, smiling woman — a collective farm worker or veterinary technician — bottle-feeding a calf. Her expression, almost saintly in its warmth, becomes a symbol of maternal care projected onto the state’s vision of stewardship over the land and its creatures. The background, suffused with an almost neon green pasture and meticulously ordered barns, represents the ideological fantasy of agricultural abundance. Unlike many Western posters...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

1962 original Soviet poster - For Communist Labor - CCCP - USSR
Located in PARIS, FR
The 1962 original Soviet poster with the inscription "За коммунистический труд" (For Communist Labor) reflects the ideological and aesthetic trends of the time in the USSR. Created d...
Category

1960s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph, Linen

Original circa 1970 Soviet propaganda poster - Cold War
Located in PARIS, FR
​This original circa 1970 Soviet propaganda poster, titled Le capitaliste et le banquier ont peur de ce symbole - Paix !, was created by Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov, a prominent R...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

You May Also Like

Rare Original Russian Propaganda poster 1945
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a rare original Russian propaganda poster of what looks like an eagle being shot down. 1945 print
Category

Vintage 1940s Russian Posters

Materials

Paper

An Original Soviet Poster by VALENTIN VIKTOROV. 1962
Located in Norton, MA
Description A Soviet poster "Den' mezhdunarodnoy solidarnosti trudyashikhsya vseh stran 1 maya" ["Day of international solidarity of workers of all count...
Category

Vintage 1960s Russian Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Soviet Art Exhibition Poster Unofficial Art To Perestroika USSR
Located in London, GB
Original vintage Soviet art exhibition poster - От неофициального искусства к перестройки 40 лет ленинградского искусства / From Unofficial Art to P...
Category

Vintage 1980s Russian Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Soviet Poster Treasure The Honour Of The Family USSR Propaganda
Located in London, GB
Original vintage Soviet propaganda poster - Treasure the Honour of the Family! - featuring the quote below artwork showing an elderly man pointing to three photographs on a wall of m...
Category

Vintage 1940s Russian Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Soviet War Propaganda Poster Strengthen Combat Power USSR WWII
Located in London, GB
Original vintage Soviet World War Two propaganda poster - Крепите боевую мощь CCCP! / Strengthen the combat power of the USSR - featuring two illustrations divided by the bold title ...
Category

Vintage 1940s Russian Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Poster Soviet People Protest Against Nuclear War USSR Peace
Located in London, GB
Original vintage Soviet propaganda poster against nuclear arms featuring an image of a man in red and white holding a red hammer and sickle star flag in a tight fist and pointing at ...
Category

Vintage 1980s Russian Posters

Materials

Paper