Puissance Soviétique 1971

This striking 1971 Soviet poster by V. Govorkov is a powerful visual synthesis of ideology, technology, and national ambition at the height of the Cold War. Conceived as a monumental allegory rather than a literal scene, the image brings together agriculture, heavy industry, science, space exploration, and military strength into a single, unified composition celebrating the perceived might and abundance of the USSR.

At the center rises a monumental female figure, crowned with wheat and bearing the letters “СССР,” a personification of the Soviet state. She appears both protective and commanding, presiding over a vast panorama of factories, cities, dams, farms, and transportation networks. In one hand she holds the hammer-and-sickle emblem intertwined with wheat, symbolizing the union of industrial labor and agriculture; in the other, a rocket, emblem of scientific progress and the Soviet space program. Around her unfolds a dense landscape of hydroelectric projects, construction sites, vehicles, ships, aircraft, and cultivated fields, suggesting a nation in constant motion and expansion.

Govorkov structures the poster almost like a map or cosmic vision, compressing the immensity of the Soviet territory into a coherent, readable whole. The curving horizon, studded with infrastructure and industry, creates the impression of a world entirely shaped by human labor and technological mastery. The imagery moves fluidly from earth to sky, from tractors and harvesters to satellites and rockets, reinforcing the idea that Soviet power extends across all domains.

Stylistically, the poster combines elements of socialist realism with a graphic clarity typical of late Soviet design. The bold outlines, bright but controlled palette, and emblematic forms ensure immediate legibility while maintaining a strong emotional impact. Every element functions symbolically, transforming machines and buildings into icons of progress, unity, and abundance.

This work stands as a vivid example of early 1970s Soviet propaganda art, when posters were conceived not merely as announcements but as visual manifestos. Puissance soviétique reflects an era that sought to present the USSR as simultaneously prosperous, technologically advanced, and historically destined for greatness—a carefully constructed image of strength meant to inspire confidence at home and project authority abroad.

Original Poster

Propaganda - Communism - USSR - Russia

Printed in Moscow

Good condition, slight creases, tears