Plakat 1929

Karl Wiener made this advertisement poster, simply titled 'Plakat', with collage and coloured pencil. It’s difficult to say exactly when, but judging from the style and content, it likely dates from the interwar years in Austria. This brightly coloured image is made up of fragments promoting the chance of good fortune, specifically the Austrian lottery. The work evokes the social and economic anxieties of the time, when many people turned to gambling as a way to escape poverty. The inclusion of the cinema alludes to another form of escapism. The design also seems to be self-consciously modern, with the random and fragmented style recalling Dadaist collage. Was Wiener commenting on the social structures of his time? Perhaps he was critiquing institutions which offered false hope? To understand this artwork better, we might research the history of advertising and the cultural significance of gambling in early 20th century Austria. Understanding the political, economic and cultural context helps us to understand the power of art.