ROSTA windows: the art of satirical poster

The world famous ROSTA project of satirical posters (1919-1921) in this photo gallery by ITAR-TASS

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Many famous artists, poets and journalists took part in the creation of ROSTA posters, among them poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, graphic designers Alexander Rodchenko and Mikhail Cheremnykh, artist Kazimir Malevich and others. Photo: ROSTA windows mount at the exhibition to mark TASS agency's 50 years anniversary,1968

The very first poster was made by Mikhail Cheremnykh. Photo: posters made by Vladimir Matakovsky exhibited at the La Casa Encendida cultural center

World-famous poet Vladimir Mayakovsky created from 400 to 500 posters, and wrote 90% of captions to ROSTA posters. Photo: 'Vladimir Mayakovsky at ROSTA' by artist Aleksandr Deyneka

A poster by Vladimir Mayakovsky

The posters were usually a series of drawings with captions. Photo: a poster promoting the Communist party by Vladimir Mayakovsky, 1920

Poster were copied and distributed in big cities. Photo: a poster discrediting counter-revolutionary forces by Vladimir Mayakovsky, 1920

ROSTA posters were displayed in shop windows during the time of famine. Photo: a poster with instructions of how to avoid famine caused by drought

Civil War and intervention, industrialization were the most popular topics for ROSTA posters. Photo: fragment of a poster by poet Vladimir Mayakovsky

A poster depicting end of civil war, return of soldiers. Th captions warn not to forget there's capitalism in the rest of the world and be aware

A poster calling miners returning after the war to be as hard-working in peaceful life as they had been exemplary in the revolutionary fight

A poster calling not to skip work and be more industrious as it can hurt capitalists

A poster summarizing experience of the third year after the October revolution

Visitors examine ROSTA posters at an exhibition dedicated to TASS 50 years anniversary, 1968

During the Bolshevik revolution on October 25 (November 7) 1917, the Petrograd Telegraph Agency (PTA), predecessor of ITAR-TASS, was seized by revolutionary Baltic Fleet seamen. Later it was decreed to become the central government information agency, moved to Moscow and renamed Russian Telegraph Agency (ROSTA).

The agency became famous due to satirical posters, the so-called ROSTA windows. The tradition appeared during the Civil War and the posters were mostly aimed at discrediting opponents of the new authorities.

The world famous ROSTA project of satirical posters (1919-1921) in this photo gallery by ITAR-TASS