As the Germans let out a Bolshevik to Russia 1917

This print, "As the Germans let out a Bolshevik to Russia", was made by Ivan Bilibin around 1917. There's something so satisfying about the crisp lines, the way the colours are blocked in. It gives the image a real graphic punch. Looking closer, you can almost feel the weight of the Bolshevik figure, how he is hunched over, like he's carrying the weight of the revolution on his shoulders. The texture is so flat, so deliberate, which amplifies the satirical nature of the piece. I love the way the artist uses these clear, simple lines to create such a complex and layered image. Notice the German imperial eagle in the center, sickly and weak. The artist makes a statement about the state of Germany at that time. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, with its powerful, socially engaged themes, but with a distinctive Russian folk art twist. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation, always building on what came before, and always open to new interpretations.