Collective farmer, guard your dances from class enemies – thieves and loafers, plundering the socialist harvest! (Govorkov V.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

The composition presents a stark visual narrative centered on themes of labor, vigilance, and class conflict within an agrarian setting. A robustly built figure, presumably a collective farmer, stands protectively before a field of ripe wheat. He is positioned slightly off-center, his posture conveying strength and determination as he gazes towards the right side of the image. His stance suggests readiness to defend against an unseen threat.
On that same right side, two figures are depicted in a state of apparent disarray amidst the harvest. They appear less physically imposing than the farmer; one is sprawled on the ground, seemingly attempting to conceal something – possibly tools or stolen goods – while the other leans precariously, exhibiting a posture indicative of guilt or desperation. The artist has rendered them with a degree of caricature, emphasizing their perceived moral failings. Their clothing appears tattered and unkempt, further reinforcing their depiction as outsiders and transgressors.
The wheat itself dominates the visual field, forming a dense, golden backdrop that symbolizes abundance and prosperity – the socialist harvest. Its height obscures much of the scene, creating a sense of enclosure and emphasizing the farmer’s role as guardian. The color palette is dominated by yellows and oranges, evoking warmth and richness, but also potentially suggesting an underlying tension or anxiety given the subject matter.
The text, prominently displayed at the bottom, reinforces the ideological message: it warns collective farmers to safeguard their fields from class enemies – thieves and loafers who are plundering the socialist harvest. The typography is bold and assertive, contributing to the overall sense of urgency and didacticism.
Subtly, the work utilizes a visual hierarchy that establishes the virtuous farmer as the protector of communal wealth against those deemed morally deficient. It’s not merely an illustration; it functions as a piece of propaganda designed to instill vigilance and reinforce social order within a collectivized agricultural system. The artists choice of portraying the enemies in such a degraded state serves to demonize them, justifying their exclusion from the collective and reinforcing the narrative of class struggle.