October 1917 (Ten Days that Shook the World) (Sovkino, 1928) Very Fine- on Paper. Russian Poster (61.75" X 28.5").. ...

Description

October 1917 (Ten Days that Shook the World) (Sovkino, 1928) Very Fine- on Paper. Russian Poster (61.75" X 28.5").
So rare that only a scant few copies are known to exist, Heritage is making its debut presentation of this exceptionally significant piece of cinematic history. Already well known for his incredible success with the famed propagandist film Battleship Potemkin, the Russian Soviet government selected director Sergei Eisenstein to head one of two films celebrating and dramatizing the ten year anniversary of the October Revolution. Such an ostentatious occasion demanded not just an impactful film, of which Eisenstein certainly created through his use of experimental Soviet montage theory, but an exceptional poster image as well. With a bold and eye-catching typographical design sure to attract attention, the piece also features emotive artistic renderings of the film's scenes to further entice potential viewers. However, one familiar with early Russian cinema may not recognize any of the faces appearing on the poster. This was an intentional choice of Eisenstein in keeping with his fervent socialist ideals, who purposefully cast everyday people as players rather than professional actors, with performers chosen specifically for their physical resemblance to their historical counterparts. A prime example of this is Vasili Nikandrov, a worker in a cement factory who portrayed the much-revered revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, as well as college student Nikolai Popov in the role of Aleksandr Kerensky. This beautiful Constructivist poster was created in two panels joined side by side. In great condition for a poster of its considerable age, the piece still displays beautifully after light touchup to mild edge wear, a few small tears, pinholes, and a diagonal tear in the left side of the lower right panel. After corrections, these issues do nothing to reduce the bold presentation of the piece, nor its outstanding desirability for both film and history enthusiasts.


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