Fascism – the enemy of culture (B.Prorokov) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

The composition presents a figure that is immediately striking in its hybrid nature – part ape, part man, and undeniably menacing. The individual strides forward with aggressive intent, wielding a large knife raised high above their head. A bowler hat sits atop the creatures head, an incongruous detail suggesting a distorted parody of civilized society or authority. The posture conveys brute force and a deliberate act of destruction.
Beneath the figure’s feet lies a pile of books and papers, clearly symbolic representations of intellectual and artistic endeavors. Titles visible among the debris include Darwin, Rolland, Marx, and Einstein, indicating an attack on scientific thought, humanist literature, socialist ideology, and groundbreaking physics – all pillars of progressive thinking in the early 20th century. The deliberate crushing of these works signifies a rejection of reason, progress, and intellectual freedom.
The color palette is restricted to shades of brown and beige, contributing to a sense of grimness and austerity. This limited range reinforces the paintings somber message and avoids any visual distractions from the central theme of cultural annihilation. The stark contrast between the dark figure and the lighter background amplifies its threatening presence.
The overall effect is one of deliberate barbarism masquerading as something resembling order or respectability. The artist’s intention appears to be a direct condemnation of an ideology that seeks to dismantle intellectual and artistic heritage, portraying it as a primal force driven by destruction rather than construction. The work functions as a potent warning against the suppression of thought and creativity in favor of brute power.