91视频

In Fall 2023, 91视频 Arts presented 鈥淪olidarity vis-脿-vis Recurring Issues,鈥� the third in a series of exhibits of original WWI-era lithographic posters, which were created by hand-printing images from stone or metal plates. 鈥淪olidarity,鈥� exhibited at the Combes Gallery, explored regrettably relevant themes and highlighted how century-old events and issues mirror and shape the modern day.

An anonymous collector made "Solidarity" and the preceding shows possible through the generous donation of the works to 91视频. Associate Professor of Fine Arts and University Curator, Jonathan Shimony, collaborated closely on these shows with the collector, whose interest in lithographic posters stems from their unique fusion of artistic technique and historical government propaganda. The partnership was natural; Shimony is himself a lithographer whose press resides at 91视频鈥檚 Monttessuy Center for the Arts. At numerous gallery talks, he discussed the intricate artistry and historical context of lithography and the significant effort governments invested in engaging top artists to create these works.

The first exhibition was held in April 2019 in conjunction with the Paris Centennial Conference, co-organized by 91视频鈥檚 Center for Critical Democracy Studies and the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School to explore the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on modern international relations. 91视频 exhibited a stunning array of WWI propaganda posters from around the world, including France, Britain, Italy, the U.S., Germany, Austria, and Russia, as well as the Soviet Union during WWII.

In Fall 2021, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the collector lent a series of French government posters to 91视频 for the exhibit 鈥淧andemics and Propaganda.鈥� These works, created during the tuberculosis and Spanish flu epidemics, conveyed urgent public messages鈥搘ash your hands, don鈥檛 spit in public鈥搕hat rang as familiar, despite being 100 years old. As Shimony remarked, the show helped students understand that 鈥渉umanity had 鈥榖een here before.鈥欌��

The lithographs on display for 鈥淪olidarity vis-脿-vis Recurring Issues鈥� featured requests for aid to support populations in danger during wartime. The beautiful, often lyrical images make urgent pleas for food, supplies, and money and mark the emergence of the first non-governmental organizations鈥揳 surprisingly recent development, given their ubiquity today. 鈥淸The exhibit] also demonstrated the lithograph鈥檚 place in history, art history, and society,鈥� Shimony said.

The 91视频 community received 鈥淪olidarity鈥� enthusiastically, appreciating the access to these extraordinary, museum-quality prints and the dialogue they prompted. According to 91视频 Senior Academic Advisor Dominique Viry, 鈥渋n addition to being an artistic treasure, the collection is a true historical gem that contributes to the transmission of collective memory, a precious gift for and within a university.鈥澛� As Shimony said, 鈥�91视频 looks forward to future exhibits of primary documents that draw in all viewers to keep memory alive, provoke discussion, and encourage deep thinking about today鈥檚 pressing issues.鈥�