Great masquerade For the sake of the common cause (Yaguzhinsky S.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

The composition presents a theatrical poster, densely layered with visual and textual elements. A central female figure dominates the scene, her face obscured by a complex arrangement of foliage, feathers, and what appears to be a stylized crown or headdress. Her expression is unreadable, contributing to an overall sense of enigmatic solemnity. The color palette is predominantly warm – reds, oranges, and golds – creating a feeling of opulence and theatrical drama.
Flanking the central figure are elaborate decorative motifs reminiscent of Byzantine iconography or medieval heraldry. These include stylized floral patterns, feathered wings, and what appear to be symbolic representations of animals or mythical creatures. The density of these details suggests an intentional blurring of boundaries between reality and fantasy, a common characteristic of masquerade themes.
The poster is heavily laden with text arranged in multiple columns. This textual content appears to detail the program for a theatrical production, including acts, scenes, and performers names. The Cyrillic script indicates its origin within a Russian cultural context. The sheer volume of text contributes to the feeling of overwhelming spectacle and reinforces the idea of a grand, elaborate event.
Subtly embedded within the design is a smaller, almost miniature depiction in the lower right corner. This image appears to be a portrait or caricature, rendered with a looser, more informal style than the rest of the poster. Its placement suggests it might represent a key figure involved in the production, perhaps an artist or patron.
The overall effect is one of controlled chaos – a deliberate juxtaposition of order and disorder, spectacle and anonymity. The masquerade theme itself implies a temporary suspension of identity and social norms, which is visually reinforced by the obscured face of the central figure and the abundance of symbolic imagery. It seems likely that the poster was intended to convey not only information about the theatrical production but also to evoke a sense of mystery, excitement, and shared purpose – as suggested by the title For the Sake of the Common Cause.