Chinese Cultural Revolution Poster

Faces tight with effort, a forest of rifles, and a wash of red.

Printed in ink on paper in China in the 20th century, this poster was made during the Cultural Revolution. Powerful two-color compositions, in the manner of woodcuts, were common among propaganda prints. A packed group of fighters strides forward with rifles lowered, their faces cut into hard black-and-white planes against swirling red. A line of black characters runs along the foot, set over a cream margin. The paper is slightly softened and shows a few faint folds.

About 29 by 44 inches. Intense in an almost physical way.