The Union of Worker and Peasant. by Lebedev, Vladimir Vasilʹevich, 1891-1967 Artist.

Lebedev, Vladimir Vasilʹevich, 1891-1967 Artist.

1921-01-01

photo, print, drawing

Library of Congress

This propaganda poster from the Russian Civil War of 1919--21 is by Vladimir Lebedev, a prolific Russian painter, book illustrator, and poster and set designer. Lebedev's compositions are distinguished by simple blocks of color and figures broken down into geometric shapes. The image here promotes the brotherhood of peasants and workers and may have addressed a topical issue at a time when workers lost jobs and fled to the country leading to tensions between these two groups. In this composition, the worker stands slightly behind and in friendly and protective gesture puts his arm around the peasant. During the Civil War, the Russia