Mosselprom. Tobacco products. (Bulanov M.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

Here we observe a promotional piece employing a stylized portrait of a young woman as its central figure. The composition is dominated by a vertical format, with the subject positioned centrally and presented in a three-quarter view. She holds aloft a package of tobacco products, her gaze directed towards the viewer with an expression that suggests both confidence and accessibility.
The artist has rendered the woman in a manner characteristic of Art Deco aesthetics; her hair is styled in a fashionable bob, and she wears a dark cap adorned with lettering. Her attire consists of a simple, dark sweater, which emphasizes her youthful appearance and projects an image of modern elegance. The background is a stark red, serving to heighten the visual impact of the figure and the array of tobacco packaging that surrounds her.
A multitude of product packages are arranged at the woman’s feet, creating a dense visual field. Each package displays distinct branding elements – Cyrillic lettering, stylized logos, and vibrant color schemes – indicating a range of available products. The sheer volume of these packages suggests abundance and variety within the brands offerings.
The text positioned above the figure reinforces the promotional nature of the work. It identifies the source of the tobacco goods as Mossekhprom, likely an abbreviation for a larger industrial entity. Beneath this, smaller lettering specifies “Tabachnye Izdelia,” indicating that these are tobacco products.
Subtly embedded within the design is a layer of ideological messaging. The prominence of the woman’s image and her assured demeanor convey a sense of aspirational consumerism – a desire to emulate her style and sophistication through purchasing the advertised goods. The inclusion of the phrase ЯВА КРАСНАЯ ЗВЕЗДА (YAVA RED STAR) on one of the packages hints at an association with Soviet-era branding, potentially linking the product with a sense of national pride or industrial progress.
The overall effect is that of a carefully constructed advertisement designed to appeal to a consumer base seeking both modern style and a connection to the prevailing political climate.