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

G. Komoltsev
1967 original Soviet poster by G. Komoltsev, titled American Democracy

1967

About the Item

The 1967 original Soviet poster by G. Komoltsev, titled "Démocratie Américaine," is a striking example of Cold War-era propaganda that reflects the intense ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. The poster critiques American democracy, portraying it as hypocritical and violent. This powerful visual commentary was produced at the height of the Vietnam War and during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, two major issues that Soviet propaganda frequently highlighted to criticize the U.S. G. Komoltsev, a Soviet artist, employed bold imagery and stark contrasts to make a political statement. The design of the poster features a fragmented American flag, with images that depict scenes of police brutality and military intervention, a visual representation of what the Soviet Union portrayed as the reality behind the American ideal of democracy. The use of red, white, and blue in the poster echoes the American flag, but the imagery contained within these colors tells a very different story, emphasizing conflict, oppression, and inequality. This poster was part of a broader campaign by the Soviet Union to undermine the global image of the United States by highlighting domestic issues such as racial inequality, protests against the Vietnam War, and civil unrest. Soviet propaganda during this period frequently contrasted the social upheavals in the United States with the purported stability and equality of the socialist system. Posters like "Démocratie Américaine" were distributed widely in Soviet territories and in allied countries as part of this ideological battle. The bold, graphic style of the poster is typical of Soviet propaganda art from this era, which often used simple but powerful visual elements to convey political messages. The contrast between the ideals of democracy and the reality, as portrayed by the Soviets, is underscored by the juxtaposition of American symbols with disturbing imagery. This approach was intended to provoke strong emotional reactions and reinforce negative perceptions of the United States among Soviet citizens and in the international community. Today, this poster is a significant historical artifact, reflecting the intense propaganda efforts that defined the Cold War period. It is also a reminder of how art and design were used as tools of political messaging, shaping public opinion and influencing the global perception of rival superpowers. Collectors of Cold War memorabilia and Soviet art view posters like this one as important pieces that encapsulate the era's complex and often contentious global politics. Politics - Cold War - Propaganda - United States Printed in Moscow
  • Creator:
    G. Komoltsev
  • Creation Year:
    1967
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 33.86 in (86 cm)Width: 23.23 in (59 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Good condition, slight creases.
  • Gallery Location:
    PARIS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1792215016542

More From This Seller

View All
70s Original Poster of Ernesto Che Guevarra
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful poster with the effigy of Ernesto Che Guevarra, a symbol of struggle, hope, internationalism and social justice for Latin America. On October 8, 1967, Ernesto Guevara and a...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

Original Poster of Auriac for the Middle East Airlines in Damascus
By Jacques Auriac
Located in PARIS, FR
Very nice poster of Auriac for the Middle East Airlines in Damascus. Jacques Auriac, born in 1922 in Paris and died in 2003, was a French painter, post...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

Original Cuban Poster XI Aniversario del FNL de Viet Nam Del Sur Circa 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
Very nice poster of the 70's for the XIth anniversary of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. This Cuban poster was edited by the OCLA...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

A.M. Cassandre - Galeries Lafayette 1928 - Art Deco Original Poster
By Adolphe Jean-Marie (AM) Cassandre
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful poster of Cassandre in 1928 for the Exposition Générale at Galeries Lafayette. Cassandre, pseudonym of Adolphe Jean Marie Mouron, 🇺🇦 & 🇫🇷 (1901-1968) is a French graphic designer, poster artist, theater decorator, lithographer, painter and typographer whose works never cease to amaze us He is mainly known for his advertising posters for railroads, such as the Étoile du Nord, the Dubonnet drink, the Normandie liner, and for the typefaces he created in the 1930s such as Bifur and Peignot, and, drawn out of...
Category

1920s Art Deco Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Linen, Lithograph

The strength of the USSR 1959 Soviet Poster on the conquest of space Cold War
Located in PARIS, FR
Very beautiful Soviet poster on the conquest of space during the Cold War. The space race is one of the manifestations of the Cold War in which the two superpowers engaged from the e...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph, Linen

Original poster from 1958 Kloster Parsenn Switzerland Tourism SwissAir
Located in PARIS, FR
Original vintage poster for the popular Swiss alpine resort of Klosters Parsenn Suisse Schweiz featuring a colourful and fun photo of a girl wearing red ...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Linen, Lithograph

You May Also Like

Rosta Windows, Lithograph by Wladimir Majakowski, 1920
By Wladimir Majakowski
Located in Berlin, DE
This is one of the very rare lithographs of an image for the Rosta windows. Rosta without number ( Christmas number ), 3 January 1920. Measurements: Image: 10.43 x 5.91 in ( 26,5 x ...
Category

Early 20th Century Other Art Style Figurative Prints

Materials

Archival Paper, Lithograph

Henri Matisse: Colour Lithographs after the Cut-Outs, Framed Print, 1958
By Henri Matisse
Located in Richmond, GB
Henri Matisse: Colour Lithographs after the Cut-Outs, Framed Print, 1958 In 1941 Matisse underwent abdominal surgery after which he found painting to be physically taxing. Increasi...
Category

20th Century Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Henri Matisse: Colour Lithographs after the Cut-Outs, Framed Print, 1958
By Henri Matisse
Located in Richmond, GB
Henri Matisse: Colour Lithographs after the Cut-Outs, Framed Print, 1958 In 1941 Matisse underwent abdominal surgery after which he found painting to be physically taxing. Increasi...
Category

20th Century Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

George Grosz Lithograph "Kraft und Anmut" ( Strength and Grace ), 1922
By (after) George Grosz
Located in Berlin, DE
Color Lithograph on handmade paper from Ecce Homo, by George Grosz, 1922 Printed by Kunstanstalt Dr. Selle & Co. AG, Berlin. Published by Malik Verlag, 1923 Numbered in Roman numeral...
Category

1920s Figurative Prints

Materials

Handmade Paper, Color, Lithograph

George Grosz Lithograph "Dämmerung" (Twilight ), 1922
By George Grosz
Located in Berlin, DE
Color Lithograph on handmade paper from Ecce Homo, by George Grosz, 1922. Printed by Kunstanstalt Dr. Selle & Co. AG, Berlin Published by Malik Verlag, 1923. Numbered in Roman numera...
Category

1920s Figurative Prints

Materials

Handmade Paper, Color, Lithograph

George Grosz Lithograph "Vor Sonnenaufgang" ( Before Sunrise ), 1922
By George Grosz
Located in Berlin, DE
Color Lithograph on handmade paper from Ecce Homo, by George Grosz, 1922. Printed by Kunstanstalt Dr. Selle & Co. AG, Berlin Published by Malik Verlag, 1923. Numbered in Roman numera...
Category

1920s Figurative Prints

Materials

Handmade Paper, Color, Lithograph

Recently Viewed

View All