http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/chairman/chnintro.php
Chinese Posters
1. Early years (1949-1965)
2. Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)
3. Modernization (1977-1997)
The Chinese posters on this site are divided in three sections: the early years (1949-1965), the Cultural
Revolution (1966-1976) and the period of modernization up to the present (1977-1997). See also
chineseposters.net.
Since 1949, the Communist Party is in power in China, with Mao Zedong as chairman. In the early years, poster
propaganda focuses on building the new country. The late 1950s bring the forced collectivization of agriculture
and the campaign for the Great Leap Forward, which was to boost China's industrial production. The happy,
energetic, and idyllic scenes on the posters contrast with the grim reality of mismanagement in industry and
agriculture, which resulted in a horrible famine in which 30 to 40 million people starving to death.
On the posters, elements of Socialist Realism are recognizable, inspired by examples and teachers from the
Soviet Union. From the beginning they are blended with elements of traditional Chinese painting and popular
art: sweet colours, applied in soft gradations or combinations of heavy black contours with bright flat colours.
In the early 1960s there is an economic liberalization to encourage production. At the same time, an extremely
aggressive style of propaganda is developed for use against Western imperialism. This is especially evident in
posters on the Vietnam War.
click on the small images to display larger images and background data
1. The central people's government constitutes the only legitimate government of all the people of
the People's Republic of China, ca. 1949
2. Qian Daxin, Elect good people to do good things, 1953
3. Li Zongjin, Study the advanced production experience of the Soviet Union, 1953
4. Cai Zhenhua, Produce more iron and steel to send to the front lines of national construction, 1953
5. Xin Lilang, New view in the rural village, 1953
6. Wang Liuying, Wu Shaoyun a.o., Build new socialist rural villages, 1958
7. Rui Guangting, The people's communes are good , 1958
8. Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House collective work, Take steel as the key link, for a
leap forward in all fields, 1958
9. Wu Shaoyun, We sell dry, clean, neat, and selected cotton to the state, 1958
10. Jin Meisheng, The vegetables are green, the cucumbers plumb, the yield is abundant, 1959
11. Jin Meisheng, A high tower of winter gourds, 1959
12. Shao Wenjin, Strike the battle drum of the Great Leap Forward ever louder, 1959
13. Bei Yingren, Zhang Lingzhi, Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of our great
nation, 1959
14. Jiang Nanchun, Han Min, Ride the wind and cleave the waves to realize a leap forward in
all fields, 1960
15. Zhang Yuqing, The new center of the commune, 1961
16. Ha Qiongwen, American imperialism must be driven out of Southern Vietnam!, 1963
17. Jin Meisheng, The seeds have been well selected, the harvest is more bountiful every year, 1964
18. Li Mubai, Jin Xuechen, Good sisters at the conference of outstanding workers, 1964
19. Li Mubai, Jin Xuechen, Chairman Mao meets with model workers, 1964
20. Zhou Ruizhuang, Vigorously support the anti-imperialist struggle of the peoples of Asia,
Africa and Latin America, ca. 1964
Chinese Posters
1. Early years (1949-1965)
2. Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)
3. Modernization (1977-1997)
In 1966 Mao launches the Cultural Revolution to eliminate his reformist rivals and set the country back on a rigid
communist course. An enormous propaganda campaign gets under way, with hundreds of thousands of copies
of posters being distributed. The posters show political adversaries crushed by giant workers, determined
volunteer soldiers carry machine guns and seem ready to use them. The smiling image of Mao overshadows all,
hovering above crowds carrying red flags and Little Red Books.
Designers use examples rather than an individual style, as individualism is not appreciated. Experienced
designers have to work anonymously or in collectives, or are not allowed to work at all. Every detail has a
distinct meaning on the posters. Gestures and grouping of figures in frozen poses often call to mind scenes from
the revolutionary Beijing Operas. Red is the dominant colour on almost every poster. Every nuance of the ruling
ideology is spread with an incredible intensity.
In the early 1970s the situation loosens up slightly. The emphasis shifts to the countryside and to the
glorification of life in the agricultural communes. Posters become more colourful again, often painted in the
style that combines heavy contours with carefully shaded colours. The folk painters from Huxian county are
touted as true folk artists, demonstrating the innate artistic abilities of the people. Hundreds of their paintings
are made into posters.
click on the small images to display larger images and background data
21. Long live the victory of the revolutionary cultural line of Chairman Mao, 1967
22. Fully criticize the Chinese Khrushchev from a political, ideological, and theoretical
perspective, 1967
23. With regard to the great teacher Chairman Mao, cherish the word 'Loyalty', 1968
24. The Revolutionary Committees are good, 1968
25. Zhejiang Workers, Farmers and Soldiers Art Academy collective, The reddest, reddest, red sun in
our heart, Chairman Mao, and us together, 1968
26. Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House collective, Forging ahead courageously while
following the great leader Chairman Mao, 1969
27. Propaganda Group of the Revolutionary Committee of the Shanghai No. 3 Ink Factory,
Firmly grasp large-scale revolutionary criticism, 1969
28. Political Department of the Zhejiang Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation
Army, Resolutely destroy all enemies who dare to encroach upon us!, 1970
29. Red Eagle Corps of the Air force stationed in Nanjing, We are determined to liberate
Taiwan!, 1970
30. The 'Eastern Sea is Red' Unit of the Navy Air force stationed in Shanghai, Be prepared at all
times and be sure to destroy the enemy intruders!, 1970
31. Revolutionary Group of the Second Liaison Office of the Fifth Battalion of the Shanghai
Cultural System, Prepare for struggle, prepare for famine, for the people, 1970
32. Go among the workers, peasants, and soldiers, and into the thick of struggle!, ca. 1967-1972
33. Keep the country in heart and the whole world in mind!, ca. 1967-1972
34. In industry, learn from Daqing, 1971
35. Nanjing City Fine Arts Creation Study Group, Becoming more prosperous every day, 1972
36. Zhang Yuqing, The Yangzi River Bridge at Nanking, ca. 1974
37. Carry forward the revolutionary spirit of Lu Xun, ca. 1970-1975
38. Happy that pulling up seedlings no longer needs bending the waist, ca. 1970-1975
39. Representatives of brother nationalities visit a textile machinery plant, ca. 1970-1975
40. Socialism is Fine, ca. 1970-1975
41. Qin Yongchun, Busy with a bumper harvest, ca. 1970-1975
42. The fish is fat and big, ca. 1970-1975
43. Little guests in the Moon Palace, ca. 1970-1975?
44. Zhao Dawu, Unite to achieve an even greater victory!, 1973
45. Dong Zhengyi, The commune's fish pond, 1973
46. Li Chenhua, The brigade's ducks, 1973
47. Wu Min, Enthusiastically welcome the victorious opening of the Fourth National People's
Congress ..., 1973
48. Yao Zhongyu, Always keep the gun firmly in hand, 1974
49. Song Wenzhi, On the banks of the Yangzi River, Daqing blooms, 1975
50. Jiang Zhongbo, Liu Xiaoman, Increase alertness, strengthen military training, 1974
51. Zhao Kunhan, The production brigade's reading room, 1975
52. Cheng Minsheng, Fresh breeze in the shop, 1975
53. Huxian peasant painters collective, Zhao Kunhan, Develop physical education activities in
peasant villages, 1975