KUKRYNIKSY
Новый «Болшой Скачок» Пекина [The new Great Leap of Peking [Beijing]]
Moscow, Izadetelstvo ‘Plakat’
1977
54 x 37 cm, 12 posters loosely inserted in a printed paper portfolio featuring one further designs, portfolio lightly worn with numerous short tears, else fine.
A dramatic collection of irreverent depictions of Imperialism in inimitable Kukryniksi style, from the 1970s. The posters pillory many prominent motifs of the 20th century, including Hitler, NATO, the BBC, and American civil rights.
The Kukryniksi – a portmanteau name derived from the names of the three artists, Mikhail Kupryanov (Ku), Porfiri Krylov (Kry), and Nikolai Sokolov (Niks) – are arguably the most successful Russian caricaturists. Favoured by the establishment, they were rarely privileged in being allowed to travel, producing views of Europe as well as a variety of spirited propaganda drawings in support of the Russian war effort, and illustrating many classic Russian texts.
