Original 1973 Soviet Poster – "Long Live the Friendship of Peoples" – Artist Klaudia Kudryashova, Kyiv

This is an original 1973 Soviet propaganda poster published in Kyiv by Mistetstvo (Мистецтво), one of the principal Ukrainian Soviet publishing houses, and designed by Klaudia Kudryashova.

The poster bears the declaration — in Ukrainian — “Long live the unbreakable friendship of the peoples of the USSR!” — one of the central slogans of Brezhnev-era Soviet ideology, invoking the unity of the Union’s many nationalities as a cornerstone of socialist legitimacy. The image pairs the State Emblem of the USSR with a background of delicate cherry blossoms, a distinctly Ukrainian visual motif that softens the rigidity of official iconography. It is a characteristic example of 1970s celebratory propaganda: formally correct, yet warmer and more decorative than the austere constructivism of earlier Soviet graphic design.

The choice of Ukrainian as the primary language, and the publication by a Kyiv house rather than a Moscow one, gives this poster a particular provenance. It was produced within the Ukrainian SSR for Ukrainian audiences — a reminder that Soviet propaganda was not monolithic but was localised, translated, and adapted across the republics. That specificity makes it a more nuanced historical document than the standard Moscow-issued poster.

With a print run of 45,000 copies, this poster was produced for wide distribution — yet surviving examples in collectible condition are increasingly scarce after more than fifty years.

Authenticity

100% Guaranteed Original Vintage Poster — not a modern reprint or reproduction.

Artist: Klaudia Andreevna Kudryashova
Year: 1973
Publisher: Mistetstvo (Мистецтво), Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR
Print Run: 45,000 copies
Languages: Ukrainian 
Style: Brezhnev-era celebratory propaganda / decorative Soviet graphic design
Size: 59 × 86 cm (23.2 × 33.9 in)
Medium: Offset lithograph on paper

Condition

Overall: Good (Vintage Grade)

Wear: Several horizontal fold lines across the width, consistent with long-term folded storage. Noticeable wear along the right edge including small tears and light fraying. Corners show some softening and minor paper loss. Small brown age spots (foxing) and light staining visible, particularly on the reverse and in the upper white margins.

Details: Central red graphic and Ukrainian text remain bold and vibrant with minimal fading. Professional linen backing or framing would flatten the creases and protect the edges.

This is an authentic vintage item. Please review the high-resolution photographs for a full and accurate representation. What you see is what you receive.

Shipping & Packaging

We handle historic paper with the utmost care to ensure it arrives without further damage.

Handling: Dispatched within 1–3 business days from our Sarajevo studio
Packaging: Rolled in acid-free tissue paper and shipped in a heavy-duty reinforced mailing tube — no folding, no additional creasing
Tracking: Fully tracked from our studio to your door
Standard delivery: Registered post (BH Pošta), arriving in 1–4 weeks
Express delivery: DHL Express available at checkout — delivery in 2–5 business days

International buyers are responsible for any applicable customs fees or import taxes.

Framing

Professional custom framing is available for this piece upon request. Contact us before checkout to discuss options and tailored pricing.

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