Kiest de SDAP candidaten en begraaft deze twee onder roode stemmen 1922

Editor: So, this is a political poster from 1922 titled "Kiest de SDAP candidaten en begraaft deze twee onder roode stemmen." It seems to be some kind of graphic art, probably a poster, with a very bold, expressionistic style. It looks like someone is burying two figures under a pile of red squares. It’s incredibly direct! What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, instantly I'm drawn to the red. Those falling, suffocating red squares evoke ideas of a deluge, a symbolic burial under "red votes," as the text suggests. Red is, of course, strongly associated with socialism, revolution, but also with anger, even violence. Look at how the figure on top dominates the others. How does that position affect your interpretation? Editor: It makes the action seem aggressive, very forceful. It's not a subtle message. Who do you think the figures being buried represent? Curator: That's the key, isn’t it? The caricatured features and the traditional clothing point towards establishment figures, perhaps specific politicians or parties that the SDAP – the Social Democratic Workers' Party – opposed. Note the year, 1922. What social or political tensions might have informed such a visually forceful statement? The symbols in the bucket, too, what could they tell us? Editor: I hadn’t even noticed the symbol inside the bucket! It's like a crest. Thinking about it as an iconographer, this piece is not just about surface-level politics, but also the deeper symbolism of power, suppression, and the forceful rejection of the old order. The symbolic weight behind something as simple as the color choices amplifies that feeling. Curator: Exactly! It’s a reminder that images are rarely neutral; they carry a weight of cultural and political memory. This simple poster captures the tension and passion of a particular moment in history. Editor: Thanks, I will remember to delve into iconography next time I'm examining a poster! Curator: My pleasure. Seeing through the symbols really opens up these works.