190

Valentina Nikiforovna Kulagina

1902-1987

Design for the poster "May First, Forward to the New Victories!" Circa 1930.

Silver print
With a dated stamp (1933) and editorial notations in ink on verso.

Large-format photographs are exceedingly rare during this period of the Russian avant-garde. The text reads: "With the corrections indicated on the second version, it goes into production." The stamp is accompanied by an editor's signature, signing off on the photomontage in a large format. This exceptionally rare and large piece illustrates an example of Soviet avant-garde photographers and photomontage artists worked for state publishing houses such as IZOGIZ.
The image 20 5/8 x 16 3/8 in. (52.4 x 41.6 cm.), the sheet 23 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (59.7 x 44.5 cm.)

  • Exhibited:
    Glaube-Hoffnung-Anpassung: 1928-1945, Museum Folkwang Essen, Germany, 1996, and reproduced in the accompanying catalogue
  • Literature:
    Margarita Tupitsyn, Gustav Klutsis and Valentina Kulagina: Photography and Montage After Constructivism (International Center of Photography/Steidl), p. 143
  • Condition: For condition reports, email Deborah Rogal at [email protected]

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October 16, 2025 10:30 AM EDT
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