CCCP We have Opened the Cosmos Era - Gagarine 1972

This striking 1972 original Soviet poster by V. Karakashev commemorates one of humanity’s greatest milestones: the dawn of the space age opened by the Soviet Union. The inscription quotes Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space: “We have lit the dawn of the cosmic era.” The design expresses this idea with remarkable simplicity and elegance. From the bottom of the composition rise powerful, sweeping red forms—evoking energy, propulsion, and the forward surge of history—directed toward a blue square of open space where a spacecraft travels confidently into the cosmos.

The poster is a superb example of Soviet modernist graphic design from the early 1970s. Instead of heroic realism or detailed illustration, Karakashev uses bold abstraction, geometric clarity, and a carefully controlled colour palette to create a sense of monumental movement and optimism. The contrast between the deep dark background, the vibrant red arcs, and the cool blue of space symbolises both technological power and visionary hope. The small, stylised spacecraft appears almost serene, yet it is clearly the catalyst of this sweeping visual force.

Today, this poster stands as a refined and evocative artifact of the Cold War space race, but also as a timeless celebration of human exploration. It reflects how Soviet artists transformed political pride and scientific achievement into compelling visual poetry. Elegant, modern, and emotionally resonant, it remains a memorable tribute to Gagarin’s historic achievement and to the belief that the stars were within reach.

Original Poster

Space - Communism - USSR - Russia

Printed in Moscow

Good condition, one tear, pinholes