Every truancy is a joy to the enemy, and the hero of labor is a blow to the bourgeoisie. (Mayakovsky V.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

This is a vibrant, four-panel propaganda poster created by Vladimir Mayakovsky in 1920, embodying the revolutionary spirit of the time. The poster uses a stark, graphic style with bold red figures against a yellow background.

Heres a breakdown of what each panel depicts and their subtexts:

• Panel 1: A red figure, labeled 1. КАЖДЫЙ ПРОГУЛ (Every Truancy), is shown contorted in a joyous, almost drunken stance, with a cigarette dangling from its mouth and smoke or steam billowing around it. This figure represents idleness and shirking responsibility.

• Panel 2: A grotesquely caricatured man with a top hat and a wide, toothy grin, labeled 2. РАДОСТЬ ВРАГУ (Joy to the Enemy). This figure embodies the capitalist or bourgeois enemy, gleefully observing the idleness depicted in Panel 1. The subtext is that idleness and lack of productivity benefit the enemies of the revolution.

• Panel 3: A red figure, labeled 3. А ГЕРОЙ ТРУДА - (And the Hero of Labor), is shown vigorously hammering at an anvil, with sparks flying from the impact. This depicts dedicated, productive work and celebrates the hero of labor, a recognized Soviet icon.

• Panel 4: Another grotesque caricature, this time with eyes bulging and mouth wide open in a scream or gasp, labeled 4. ДЛЯ БУРЖУЕВ УДАР. (A Blow to the Bourgeoisie). This figure represents the negative reaction of the bourgeoisie to the productive labor of the proletariat. The subtext is that the hard work and success of the laborers directly harms and oppresses the capitalist class.

Subtexts and Overall Message:

The posters central message, derived from the title and the sequence, is a stark dichotomy. It contrasts the detrimental act of idleness (and by extension, any action that weakens the collective) with the strength and positive impact of dedicated, productive labor.

• Every Truancy is a Joy to the Enemy: This directly links absenteeism and lack of effort to aiding those who oppose the Soviet state. It implies that even a small lapse in duty strengthens the enemy.

• And the Hero of Labor is a Blow to the Bourgeoisie: This highlights the power of purposeful work. The Soviet Union aimed to build a new society through collective effort, and the hero of labor was an idealized figure who embodied this ideal. Their productivity was not just beneficial to the state but actively detrimental to the old, oppressive class system.

• Propaganda for the New Order: Created shortly after the October Revolution and during the Russian Civil War, this poster serves as a powerful piece of socialist propaganda. It aims to mobilize the working class, instill a sense of duty, and demonize the perceived enemies of the revolution. It emphasizes collectivism, productive labor, and the importance of combating idleness and any form of bourgeois sabotage or indifference. The exaggerated, almost cartoonish style makes the message clear and memorable.