2 Vous voyez : voici un homme laid - Fenêtres Rosta Circa 1920

This original circa 1920 poster by Mikhail Cheremnykh forms part of the celebrated ROSTA Windows (Okna ROSTA) series, one of the most innovative graphic propaganda initiatives of the Russian avant-garde era.

Numbered 2, the sheet belongs to a larger sequential narrative and follows the introductory panel often titled “Hey, People, Look Here!” Like many ROSTA Window compositions, it combines visual simplicity with direct storytelling, introducing a character who is immediately identified through a satirical caption: “Look: Here Is an Ugly Fellow.”

The image depicts a crudely rendered figure covered with blemishes and exaggerated facial features. Such caricatural treatment was typical of ROSTA visual language, where symbolic characters represented social vices, political opponents, profiteers, reactionaries, or other figures targeted by revolutionary satire. The emphasis was not on individual portraiture but on instantly recognizable social types that could communicate a political message to a broad audience.

The ROSTA Windows were created during the turbulent years following the Russian Revolution and Civil War. Produced by the Russian Telegraph Agency (ROSTA), they were displayed in public windows, railway stations, factories, and urban centers throughout Soviet Russia. Their purpose was to communicate news, political messages, and educational themes in a visual form accessible to both literate and non-literate audiences.

Mikhail Cheremnykh (1890–1962) was among the founding figures of the movement and one of its most important artists. Working closely with revolutionary poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, he helped develop a new graphic language characterized by bold silhouettes, simplified forms, vivid colors, and concise text. This combination of image and slogan created an entirely new form of mass communication that would influence political poster design throughout the twentieth century.

The artistic power of the work lies in its remarkable economy of means. The figure is reduced to a few broad planes of color and expressive lines, yet the character’s identity is conveyed immediately. The red garment, simplified facial features, and direct frontal presentation demonstrate the efficiency and visual impact that became hallmarks of ROSTA design.

Most ROSTA posters were produced using stencil techniques that allowed rapid duplication and distribution. Because they were intended for temporary public display and often discarded after use, surviving originals are exceptionally scarce today. Their rarity, combined with their historical significance and connection to the Russian avant-garde, has made them highly desirable among collectors and museums worldwide.

As the second panel of a larger narrative sequence, “Look: Here Is an Ugly Fellow” illustrates the theatrical and didactic nature of the ROSTA Windows, where viewers were drawn into unfolding stories through a combination of humor, caricature, and political messaging. The work exemplifies the revolutionary belief that graphic art could function as a powerful instrument of public education and social transformation.

Today, this circa 1920 original poster stands as an important document of Soviet visual culture and a compelling example of the bold experimentation that defined the early years of modern graphic design. Through its striking simplicity and satirical force, it captures the spirit of one of the most influential artistic movements of the twentieth century.

Original Poster

Propaganda - Russia

Good condition