The artwork titled “Battleship Potemkin” is a poster created by artist Alexander Rodchenko in 1925, located in Moscow, Russian Federation. It is part of the Constructivism art movement. This poster is associated with the propaganda and cinema of its time, specifically designed to promote Sergei Eisenstein’s film of the same name, “Battleship Potemkin.”
The artwork features a bold, diagonal composition typical of Constructivist design. Large, angular text at the top proclaims the film’s name, “БРОНЕНОСЕЦ ПОТЕМКИН” (Battleship Potemkin), along with the year “1905,” referring to the historical events depicted in the film. Below is an image of a baby carriage in a distressing state, tumbling down a flight of stairs, which is an iconic scene from the movie. The dynamic angles, stark contrasts, and the sense of movement emphasize the drama and intensity portrayed in the film. The text at the bottom indicates the director, “С.М. Эйзенштейна” (S.M. Eisenstein), and the chief cinematographer, “Эдуард Тиссэ” (Eduard Tisse).
Rodchenko’s poster is not only a piece of movie advertisement but also a significant work of graphic art that captures the revolutionary energy of the time, embodying the aesthetic principles of Constructivism which favored abstraction, geometric shapes, and a clear, functional communication of ideas.
