Lilya Brik 

Alexander Rodchenko made this striking portrait of Lilya Brik using photomontage, a technique that became common in Europe during the 1920s. The image, made in the Soviet Union, captures the spirit of optimism and revolutionary fervor after the Russian Revolution. Rodchenko, a key figure in the Russian avant-garde, challenges traditional art institutions by embracing photography and graphic design for mass communication. Brik, a prominent literary figure and muse of poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, embodies the progressive ideals of the era. Her gesture of shouting into the distance suggests spreading the revolutionary message far and wide. But what exactly is she advertising? Rodchenko made this image as an advert for state-owned publishing house, Lengiz. By putting art in the service of advertising, Rodchenko and Brik sought to dissolve the boundary between art and everyday life. To fully understand the cultural impact of this image, we need to explore archives of Soviet-era periodicals, advertisements, and political propaganda. These historical resources help us understand the social role of art in a revolutionary context.