Wipe Fascism off the Face of the Earth! (Front page of the 'Moscow News', 27th June 1941) 1941

Curator: Let’s take a look at "Wipe Fascism off the Face of the Earth!" published as the front page of the ‘Moscow News’ on June 27th, 1941, by the artist collective Kukryniksy. What strikes you first? Editor: Well, the colour usage really jumps out—the stark red against the greyscale. It creates a strong sense of urgency and aggression. Also, there's that figure being impaled. The overall impact is incredibly graphic and emotive, designed to provoke a visceral reaction. Curator: Indeed. The image is a powerful example of Soviet propaganda art. You see a bayonet-wielding Soviet soldier piercing the head of a caricature representing Nazi Germany. Note how the drawing itself likely involved mass production—consider the paper quality, the printmaking techniques that would’ve quickly spread this image across a wide readership to rally the public in the early days of the Great Patriotic War. Editor: The Nazi figure emerging from the broken treaty document—symbolizing betrayal—is so potent. And the theatrical mask hanging beside him alludes to deception and the falseness of their promises. Consider the psychological manipulation: dehumanizing the enemy to fortify resolve. Curator: Absolutely. The deliberate act of piercing, right through the eye of the personification of Fascism, holds deep symbolic meaning—blindness, destruction of perspective, eradication of ideology. And think about the physical act of producing this. These were not isolated artists; this was a collective effort in the service of a national goal. Ink, paper, printing presses all geared toward creating these political tools, these battle cries to manufacture consent and bolster war support. Editor: The text "Wipe Fascism off the Face of the Earth!" boldly commands attention. And even the soldier’s gaze focuses downwards towards the enemy. He is unflinching in this grim task, underscoring the conviction and purpose of the Soviet people, though I am sure the "purpose" has some problematic sides too. Curator: It's compelling how this single image serves as both a historical document reflecting material and cultural circumstances and as a carefully designed call to action aimed to engage a national community around an imminent conflict. Editor: I am walking away more cognizant of art as more than image: art as symbol, art as action, art as cultural and psychological tool.