Society and culture: The exhibition “Fighting Pencil”. Satirical poster of 1960-1080s” in Saint-Petersburg

"Fighting Pencil" exhibition. Satirical poster of 1960-1980s" July 14, 2016 is opening in Rumyantsev Mansion (St. Petersburg).

Collection of the State Museum of History of St. Petersburg has about two thousand satirical posters of the creative association of Leningrad schedules and poets "Fighting Pencil". Their big part has been donated to the museum edited "Fighting Pencil", the authors of the posters and their heirs in 1950-1990s. In 2015, in the Rumyantsev Mansion was opened the exhibition "… Our "Fighting Pencil will not be blunt"", which launched a series of exhibitions devoted to this creative union.

The history of the "Fighting Pencil" began in December 1939 - during the Soviet-Finnish war. Its founders were artists such as I. S. Astapov (1905-1982), V. A. Galba (1908-1984), V. I. Kurdov (1905-1989), N. E. Muratov (1908-1992).

The second stage of the life of associations connected with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, when artists gathered again for the production of posters, so necessary to raise the morale of our army. In May 1945, a team of artists and poets was dissolved for 11 years. It was believed that there ws no need in peacetime satire. In 1956, it held the third, and last, the birth of "Fighting Pencil", which existed until 1990.

The "Fighting Pencil" always produced not propaganda posters, but satirical sheets, where drawing was accompanied by a biting concise verse. These traditions sheets of the Great Patriotic War were continued with peaceful posters.

The exhibition introduces the last period of activity of the creative team "Fighting Pencil" - 1960-1980-ies. Posters, presented on it, highlight social issues: environmental protection of the theme of the environment and education of the younger generation.