Bitter tinctures (Pobedinsky A.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

This Soviet-era advertisement from 1938, titled Bitter Tinctures by A. Pobedinsky, showcases three bottles of alcoholic beverages against a deep blue background. The bottles are arranged in a slightly staggered formation, with the largest, a clear liquor labeled Boksin Gollandskii (Boksin Holland-style), positioned in the center. To its left stands a shorter, brown glass bottle with an orange and yellow label reading Staraya Starka Vodka (Old Starka Vodka). To the right of the central bottle is a tall, slender bottle containing a pale yellow liquid, labeled Zubrovka. A stylized image of a bison is featured on the Zubrovka label.
Above the bottles, a prominent circular emblem with stylized rays encircles a silhouette of a bottle, with the text GLAVLIKERVODKA (Chief Administration of Alcohol and Spirits) and USSR in Cyrillic. The overall composition is dominated by shades of blue, brown, orange, and yellow, creating a visually striking, albeit somewhat somber, effect.
The title Bitter Tinctures itself hints at the nature of the advertised products, likely referring to medicinal or strong spirits. The use of bold, blocky yellow lettering for the title at the bottom of the poster adds a dynamic and impactful element. The style of the artwork and the prominent display of Soviet state labels suggest a government-sanctioned promotion of these alcoholic beverages, possibly for export or internal consumption, emphasizing the quality and variety offered by the Soviet alcohol industry.