Chinese Hairdresser Boy - Kwangchou

The history of every country can clearly be seen through its posters. Nowhere is this truer than in the case of China - a vast country with a rich and diverse history of poster art. Perhaps this was because posters presented an effective and colorful means of communicating messages to a broad multi-lingual population, or perhaps it was because, as always, posters could convey in images what politicians could only hint at in speeches -- whatever the reasons, Chinese propaganda poster art is a niche market in and of itself. After the Founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and throughout the 1950's and 60's - particularly during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution - Chinese poster artists were very active in terms of quantity and inventiveness. There are a huge variety of styles in the posters - some harsh, some naturalistic, some with the so-called 'sweet icing' to give the people a more idealized look and to convey a more positive cheerful outlook... In short, there is something for everyone when it comes to Chinese propaganda posters. 

This poster shows a young rifle-toting boy (shouldn't every boy be rifle toting??) going to the barber. Note the military tones as well as the sweet nature of the boy... poster is in excellent condition, measures 20 x 29 inches, and is linen lined. The artist of this poster is given as Hang Kwangchou, the printer was Les Editions populaires des Beaux Arts, and the title of the poster is: Support the Army, Love the People. This poster comes from the private collection of a noted author, collector and lecturer who has travelled widely in China and around the world. His poster collection is massive, and his knowledge quite legendary. He recently put together an exhibition of Chinese posters which was shown in national museums in Canada and France (this poster was part of that exhibition) and we are pleased and proud to have been asked to sell his posters.