The poster "Motherland Calls" was painted by the artist Irakli Toidze in June 1941. The meaning of the image on the poster was that a woman (Motherland is a mother, a collective image of a mother) calls her sons for help, to stand up to protect their native land. The image of "Motherland" later became one of the most widespread images of Soviet propaganda.
"Motherland" is one of the most famous propaganda posters in the history of the Soviet Union, with huge print runs. The background of its creation is very simple, but no less amusing. The poster appeared in the early days after the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union by the Nazi troops of Hitler's Third Reich.
The declaration of war was broadcast on all radio channels of the state, so that every inhabitant of the country heard about this terrible news. The artist Irakli Toidze, the future creator of this masterpiece, was no exception. As he admitted over time, the idea of what the poster would look like came to the author quite by accident. Toidze learned about the German attack from his wife.
On the morning of June 22, 1941, after the announcement of the Soviet Information Bureau, the artist's agitated wife ran into his studio with only one word: "War!"
Struck by Toidze, seeing all the horror and calm determination on the face of his woman, he immediately asked her to freeze in place. It was his wife who inspired the artist to create the poster. On it, he depicted an ordinary woman in a simple red dress, which should symbolize the image of Mother Russia.
The Motherland holds an oath in her hands, the adoption of which was mandatory before being sent to the front to fight the troops of the German occupiers.
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Many bayonets are visible behind the woman, which symbolizes the powerful force behind the back of the entire country. The poster had its strength: for many recruits, the poster became an additional incentive, and they tried to sign up as volunteers as soon as possible to be sent to the front.
There is a certain continuity in the heroine of the poster, similar to which was already used during the first war, as well as during the Civil War between the Red Army and the remnants of the White Guard troops.
Irakli Toidze created a number of propaganda posters during the war. In one of them, he depicted a woman with a child in her arms, the images of which were copied from Tamara's wife and Sandro's son. The poster was called "For the Motherland!"
But the story of the image of the Motherland of course did not end there, the artist turned to him again in 1959 in connection with the beginning of the era of space exploration. The poster is called "In the name of peace", 1959. She again calls for peace, only now in the vastness of space, whether people will hear it and understand, time will tell, while the militarization of space continues.
In modern society, there is also a place for this image. Numerous interpretations of the image and parody of this poster are known in fine arts, sculpture, folk art, advertising.
After the war, the artist Irakli Toidze made ten more copyright copies of the poster for various museums; the original is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. For some, the poster has become a model of Soviet military propaganda. For others - the Motherland - a mother who needs to be defended and protected. For others, it is a public stamp associated with the Soviet period. The eternal image always remains a reflection of the time in which it is applicable.
