DESIGNER UNKNOWN FESTIVAL THEATRAL DE MOSCOW. 1935. 40x28 inches, 101 1/2x71 cm. Foreign Trade Publishers, U.S.S.R. Condition B+ / B: repaired tears, creases and restoration in corners, at edges and in image. The glory days of avant-garde design, Constructivism and photomontage had disappeared by the mid-1930s in the Soviet Union. Stalin preferred the "smiling peasant" form of Socialist Realism and the conservative artists within the government propaganda agencies were only too happy to oblige. As an exception, travel posters targeted to an audience outside the country were designed with more flair; it was rightfully understood that the prevailing European artistic trend of Art Deco would be more appealing to potential tourists than Socialist Realism. This poster, with its soft, fluid, Art Deco touch is quite accomplished. The image of the conductor, dwarfed by a giant red curtain, makes for a good theatrical effect. This is the French version.
