News. Try everywhere in a pack of cigarettes Safo (A. Zelensky) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

The composition presents a striking visual advertisement centered around a package of cigarettes. The design employs bold typography and geometric forms to create a dynamic and somewhat chaotic arrangement. Dominating the foreground is a stylized representation of the cigarette pack itself, rendered in shades of red and brown with prominent Cyrillic lettering identifying it as Сафо (Safo). A single cigarette protrudes from the open package, angled diagonally across the frame, drawing the viewer’s eye upward.
Above the package, large black letters proclaim “News. Demand everywhere in a pack,” arranged in a staggered fashion that suggests movement and urgency. The text is partially obscured by a thick, white rope-like element that drapes from the top edge of the advertisement, adding to the sense of disarray and perhaps symbolizing the pervasive nature of news or information.
The background consists of a gradient of red and yellow hues, further intensifying the visual impact. Below the cigarette pack, smaller text provides details regarding price (25 pieces for 27 kopecks) and identifies the Leningrad State Tobacco Trust as the producer. A thin horizontal line runs along the bottom edge, likely containing additional production information that is illegible in this reproduction.
The overall aesthetic aligns with Constructivist principles prevalent in Soviet design of the period. The use of simplified shapes, bold colors, and dynamic typography aims to convey a message quickly and effectively. The fragmented arrangement and slightly jarring composition suggest a deliberate attempt to disrupt conventional advertising aesthetics, reflecting the revolutionary spirit of the era.
Subtly, the advertisement seems to be promoting not just the cigarettes themselves but also the idea of constant information flow – the “news” being intrinsically linked with the product. The chaotic presentation might imply that news is everywhere, inescapable and demanding attention, much like the ubiquitous nature of tobacco consumption. The choice of Safo as a brand name could carry symbolic weight; Safo was an ancient Greek lyric poet known for her passionate and often unconventional verse – a possible allusion to the cigarettes’ appeal to a modern, progressive consumer.