Promotional poster for Rezinotrest 1923

This poster was made by Alexander Rodchenko, probably with gouache or maybe screen printing, back in the day when the Soviet Union was a going concern. Look how the red and green split the face right down the middle. These colors are flat, bold, and kind of clash, right? It’s all very graphic, with hard edges. And that mouth! Are those supposed to be pacifiers, like chiclets? It's weird but also playful. I find myself thinking of Stuart Davis and his love of signs and popular culture; he too was interested in how basic shapes and colors grab your attention. Like this poster, Davis's work has a way of hitting you right between the eyes. It's not about subtlety, it's about making a statement. Art doesn't always have to be about what you see; it can also be about what you feel.