There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag communication, graphic design, advertising, display, repetition, theater, theater poster, grid, typography, propaganda, Soviet, Constructivism.

See more objects with the color tan darkkhaki darkslategrey saddlebrown darkolivegreen or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1933	Work on this object began.
1992	We acquired this object.
2013	We photographed this object.
2016	We photographed this object.
2024	You found it!

Poster, Machinal/Kamerny Theater

This is a Poster. It is dated 1933 and we acquired it in 1992. Its medium is lithograph and letterpress on thin cream newsprint, laid down on linen-lined paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This poster was produced to promote a production at the Moscow Kamerny (Chamber) Theater, founded by Alexander Tairov in 1914. The Kamerny Theater was a pioneer in eclectic and modernist productions. For each production, Tairov invited new artists who were innovative in their aesthetic approach to create new designs for the stage, costumes, as well as the production’s promotional material.
One of the most brilliant designers associated with the Kamerny was Alexandra Exter. At the time of proposed acquisition, Cooper-Hewitt has one costume design by Exter in the collection, Costume for a Boyard (1981-37-18), which was likely created for either the Kamerny Theater or the Moscow Art Theater.

It is credited Museum purchase through gift of Lucy Work Hewitt.

Poster, International Women Workers Day
lithograph on paper.
Museum purchase through gift of George A. Hearn.
1992-164-1

Poster, Textiles & Objects
screenprint on textured off-white paper.
Gift of Marilyn and John Neuhart.
2004-13-1

Poster, Paradiso 1996
die-cut screenprint on paper.
Gift of Experimental Jetset.
2014-40-1

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Book cover with a graphic design illustration and Russian text. Above the text translates to “PARISIENNE.” It is followed by a smaller text that translates to “AN ARTISTIC DRAMA IN EIGHT PARTS.” A rectangular block containing illustration with a black, yellow, and white color scheme follows. It features a rendition of the actor, Charlie Chaplin, in a cartoon-like fashion. He holds a bowler hat in one hand and a cane in the other. He wears a suit and is sporting a mustache. He’s placed in front of triangular solid shapes in yellow and white creating what seems like an abstracted version of stage spotlights. Below the actor is text in yellow on a black background that translates to “CHARLIE CHAPLIN” followed by “ACTOR” below it.

Object ID #890290249
black, yellow and white printed limp paper cover.
Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Library, PN1995.9....
43.2016.1

A Russian constructivist-style book cover for American Cinema of Today. The black silhouette of a figure on a ladder in the center left leans out and shouts through a black megaphone, whilst looking down on a black and orange urban cityscape, complete with geometric skyscrapers and rows of cars in traffic, portrayed from an aerial perspective. The Cyrillic title of the book, [KINO / AMERIKA / SEGODNYA], [American Cinema of Today] in orange, capital letters is found on the right inside a bilboard on top of a skyscraper, and seems to be lit by a spotlight projected beneath the figure. Inside a thin black strip at the top of the book cover is the name [DAN RAFALOVICH], [Daniil Rafalovich] in capital, orange Cyrillic letters; and mirrored on the bottom, inside a black strip is name of the St Petersburg publishing house, [TEAKINOPECHAT] in orange Cyrillic capitals.

Object ID #890290253
red-and-black-printed and illustrated paper.
Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Library, PN1993.5....
43.2016.2

Its dimensions are

85.7 x 59.1cm (33 3/4 x 23 1/4in.)

Cite this object as

Poster, Machinal/Kamerny Theater; Russia; lithograph and letterpress on thin cream newsprint, laid down on linen-lined paper; 85.7 x 59.1cm (33 3/4 x 23 1/4in.); Museum purchase through gift of Lucy Work Hewitt; 1992-167-1

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2DwTk/
Accession Number 1992-167-1
Object ID 18639537