Chinese Cultural Revolution Print

A bold red sheet with a black-and-white portrait cut out like a woodblock stamp.

This Cultural Revolution print of Chairman Mao is by Chairman Mao, from China, and dates to the 20th century. It is ink on paper. Portraits of Mao Zedong were widely displayed in homes, schools, factories and public squares in China during these years, and they followed standard poses and compositions. Vertical print on an orange-red ground. A man in a soft cap and buttoned collar, rendered in strong black strokes with white highlights, fills the upper area. White brush-style characters sign off the bottom edge. It is 5.2 inches wide and 7.25 high.

All carved edges and flat color, with zero interest in subtlety.