If you’re a connoisseur of early 20th century graphic design, then you probably already know that the Soviet Union was once a hotbed for cutting-edge, avant-garde film poster design. Unlike their Western counterparts, who drew inspiration from the Art Nouveau scene, the Soviet Constructivists were much more experimental, looking to book illustration and the Futurist Manifesto of 1909 as their guideposts. New York readers can currently check out a massive collection of these revolutionary film posters — many which have never been publicly exhibited before — at Chelsea’s Tony Shafrazi Gallery. In the meantime, click through to preview a few of the works that will be on display through the end of the month.
Georgii & Vladimir Stenberg, A Shrewd Move, 1927. Color lithograph. 40 x 28 ½ inches / 102 x 72 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Alexander Rodchenko, Battleship Potemkin, 1929. 28 ½ x 42 ½ inches / 72 x 108 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Georgii & Vladimir Stenberg, Man with a Movie Camera, 1929. 39 ¼ x 28 inches / 100 x 71 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Georgii & Vladimir Stenberg, The Eleventh, 1928. Color lithograph. 42 ¼ x 28 inches / 107 x 71 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Leonid A. Voronov & Evstafiev, October, 1927. 42 x 54 inches / 107 x 137 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Mikhail Dlugach, Electric Chair, 1928. Color lithograph. 42 ½ x 28 ½ inches / 108 x 72 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Alexander Rodchenko, The Sixth Part of the World, 1925. 42 x 27 inches / 107 x 69 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Anatoly Belsky, 5 Minutes, 1929. Color lithograph, 41 x 27 inches / 104 x 69 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Unknown Artist, Enthusiasm, 1931. 24 X 34 inches / 63 x 87 cm. Courtesy Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York