A green spider. Director A. Volkov. Film-drama in 5 parts. (Egorov V., Kalmanson M.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

This is a vintage movie poster for a 1916 Russian film drama titled The Green Spider, directed by A. Volkov.

Description:

The poster features a striking and unsettling image. At the top, a stylized, dark spiders body and legs dominate the frame, rendered in black ink with a linocut or woodcut aesthetic. The spiders legs are thick and angular, crossing behind a human face that is fused with or emerging from the spiders central mass. This face has wide, staring eyes with dark circles underneath, giving it an almost mask-like appearance. The expression is ambiguous, a subtle, perhaps sinister, smile playing on the lips. The skin of the face is a pale, eerie green, a stark contrast to the black of the spider. The background is divided into hatched lines, creating a sense of depth and texture, possibly representing a spiderweb. The title ЗЕЛЕНЫЙ ПАУКЪ (The Green Spider) is displayed prominently in large, bold Cyrillic letters below the central image. Various names of actors, directors, and production details are listed in smaller text, along with the designation РУССКАЯ ЗОЛОТАЯ СЕРІЯ (Russian Golden Series).

Subtexts:

• The Spider as a Symbol: The spider is a potent symbol, often associated with manipulation, entrapment, danger, and the feminine. In this context, the green spider might represent a seductive but destructive female character, a femme fatale who ensnares her victims. The green hue could allude to jealousy, decay, or something unnatural and poisonous.
• Psychological Horror/Drama: The unsettling portrayal of the face merging with the spider suggests a psychological element to the film. It could hint at themes of inner turmoil, madness, or the disintegration of identity. The eerie green face and vacant stare evoke a sense of unease and psychological distress.
• Entrapment and Deception: The spiderweb motif, implied by the spiders presence and background lines, signifies being trapped or caught. The film likely explores themes of deception, manipulation, and individuals being caught in the web of anothers schemes or their own circumstances.
• Early Cinema Aesthetics: The posters style, with its bold lines, stark contrasts, and graphic quality, is characteristic of early 20th-century poster art, particularly avant-garde movements. It aims to grab attention and convey the films mood and genre through powerful visual symbolism.
• Russian Golden Series: This designation suggests the film was part of a collection of notable or popular productions, aiming to leverage existing brand recognition or prestige.