In order to have more, you have to produce more. To produce more – you need to know more. (Zelensky A.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

What do you see?

The image is a propaganda poster from 1920, created by A. Zelensky. It features a strong, determined hand, clad in a red sleeve, gripping a sickle. The sickle is poised above an open book, its blade resting on the pages. Emerging from the book, near where the sickle meets it, is a sheaf of wheat. The poster is framed by bold text, divided into two parts. The top section reads: To have more, you must produce more. The bottom section, larger and more prominent, states: To produce more, you must know more. The background is a muted grey, and the colors are bold and somewhat stark, typical of early 20th-century propaganda. On either side of the bottom text are circular emblems, one with imagery of harvesting and the other with a red star and what appears to be a cogwheel, symbols associated with labor and the Soviet Union.

What are the subtexts?

The poster conveys a powerful message about the relationship between knowledge, labor, and prosperity. The symbolism is rich:

• The Hand and Sickle: This is a classic depiction of the working class, the laborer, and agricultural production. The strong grip suggests capability and determination. The red sleeve is often associated with revolution and socialism.
• The Open Book: This directly represents knowledge, education, and intellectual pursuits. The fact that it is open implies accessibility and a willingness to learn.
• The Wheat Sheaf: This symbolizes the fruits of labor, agricultural abundance, and the sustenance derived from production.
• The Combination of Elements: The most crucial subtext lies in how these elements are combined. The sickle is shown poised on the book and above the wheat. This visually links the act of production (sickle) directly to knowledge (book) and its eventual outcome (wheat). It suggests that knowledge is the foundation upon which productive labor is built, leading to prosperity.
• The Textual Reinforcement: The explicit statements in the poster leave no room for ambiguity: To have more, you must produce more. This appeals to a basic human desire for material well-being. However, the second, more emphasized statement, To produce more, you must know more, shifts the focus from mere physical labor to the importance of intellectual advancement. This was a key tenet of early Soviet ideology, which aimed to industrialize and modernize the nation through education and technical expertise.
• Propaganda Purpose: As a propaganda piece from 1920, this poster likely aimed to mobilize the population, particularly workers and peasants, to embrace education and learning not as an end in itself, but as a means to achieve collective and individual betterment through increased production. It promotes a forward-looking vision of progress driven by both labor and intellect, aligning with the goals of the nascent Soviet state.

In essence, the poster argues that true progress and increased prosperity come not just from hard work, but from informed, educated work. It promotes the idea that acquiring knowledge is as vital, if not more vital, to achieving a better future as engaging in physical labor.