The 2nd All-Union Lottery of OSOAVIACHEM. (Dlugach I., Karachentsov P.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

The composition presents a striking visual narrative centered around themes of progress, aspiration, and opportunity within a specific socio-political framework. A male figure, clad in what appears to be a pilots uniform or similar professional attire, dominates the central space. He stands atop a stylized globe, raising his arm in a gesture that combines triumph and direction. The globe itself is rendered with simplified cartography, highlighting major landmasses and suggesting global reach.
The background employs a stark contrast of deep blue and bright yellow, creating a sense of dynamism and emphasizing the figures prominence. Floating above him are stylized representations of airplanes, reinforcing the theme of aviation and technological advancement. The typography is bold and assertive, announcing a prize amount (11.093) and ticket price (50 kopeek). Text in Cyrillic script further details the lottery’s connection to travel opportunities across Europe and within the Soviet Union.
The images subtexts are layered. It clearly functions as promotional material for a lottery, but its visual language extends beyond mere advertising. The depiction of the figure on the globe suggests mastery over geography and potentially, by extension, control or influence. His upward gesture implies ambition and the possibility of achieving great things through participation in the lottery. The airplanes symbolize modernity and progress – key tenets of the era’s ideology.
The overall effect is one of optimistic futurism, characteristic of Soviet propaganda during the late 1920s. It aims to connect the lottery with broader aspirations for national development and individual advancement, presenting it not just as a game of chance but as a pathway to realizing dreams of travel and success within a rapidly changing world. The design’s simplicity and bold graphics were intended to be easily understood and widely disseminated, reinforcing its message across diverse populations.