Culver City,
California
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Happy is He Who Does not Drink
Date Made: 1988
Country: Soviet Union
Materials: paper
Measurements: 57.5 cm x 120.5 cm; 22 5/8 in x 47 7/16 in
This poster, in a traditional Russian art style, promotes sobriety and tells of the effects alcohol can have on one's life. The captions for each photo are traditional Russian proverbs regarding alcoholism and sobriety. The first states "Where you get drunk, there you will also fight", above an image of two men swinging bottles at eachother The second states "He loved wine and ruined his family", above an image of a man hugging a bottle, his back turned to 3 children with their mouths open holding spoons The third states "Better to eat gingerbread than to revel", above an image of a man an his family, enjoying traditional russian tea cookies around a samovar. Above them is the Gamayun, a traditional Russian mythological creature that symbolizes wisdom, prosperity, harmony, and revival. At the bottom is a final saying: "Happy is he who does not drink" This poster, printed in 1989, is part of the Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign of the late 1980s. It is interesting to note the artistic style of the poster is not Soviet, but Russian traditional. This echoes the rising nationalism of the period and the return to traditional designs.
Accession Number: 2016.067.056
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris