For the Socialist Forge of Health. 1932

This Soviet propaganda poster was designed by Vera Gitsevich, one of the leading Constructivist artists of the 1920s and 1930s. It promotes the development of proletarian parks of culture and leisure as vital spaces for workers’ health, recreation, and socialist education. The poster combines photomontage techniques – workers marching, exercising, reading, and gathering – set against the backdrop of a planned park layout. A dynamic figure with a megaphone and red flag calls the people to action, symbolizing collective energy and socialist enthusiasm. The slogan reads: “For the Socialist Forge of Health – For the Proletarian Park of Culture and Leisure.” It reflects the Soviet emphasis on improving public health and cultivating a new socialist lifestyle through organized cultural and physical activities.