Poster of the Leningrad Society bows town and country 1925

This poster, made by Boris Kustodiev, depicts figures with books and newspapers amongst a snowy landscape. Kustodiev probably had to work fast and make use of the means at hand, juggling the need to make something legible with his own artistic sensibility. I can imagine him thinking about the need for connection, between urban and rural communities, between people from different walks of life, and the value of art as a kind of social glue. I'm drawn to the way the figures are rendered with solid blocks of color and bold outlines. The red and black scarf adds an extra layer of humanity, and I'm reminded that this piece is not just a political statement, but an expression of care and concern for his community. It feels like a dialogue between constructivism and folk art. As artists, we’re all connected in this ongoing conversation, passing ideas and inspiration back and forth, building on what came before, and finding new ways to express our own experiences.