Absence from work vs Hero of Labor 1920

1. Each absence from work
2. A joy to an enemy,
3. A hero of labor –
4. a shock to a burjui (capitalist)
Okna Rosta
Poem by V. Mayakovsky

This early Soviet poster delivers a clear moral lesson about labor discipline. Divided into four panels, it contrasts two types of people: the idle worker, whose absence from work brings joy to the bourgeois enemy, and the hero of labor, whose productivity strikes a blow against the bourgeoisie. The simplified figures and bright red silhouettes create a strong visual rhythm typical of ROSTA window posters. With minimal text and expressive imagery, it communicates that every missed workday helps the enemy, while hard work strengthens socialism. The poster embodies the energetic propaganda style of the early 1920s that encouraged devotion, productivity, and class consciousness.