friends kept the artists in the right way, and received the
fullest explanation. The political section of the organization
works out the main idea and aim for each picture, which
covers the whole side of a wagon. This idea is then
submitted to a "collective" of artists, who are jointly
responsible for its realization in paint. The artists compete
with each other for a prize which is awarded for the best
design, the judges being the artists themselves. It is the art
of the poster, art with a purpose of the most definite kind.
The result is sometimes amusing, interesting, startling, but,
whatever else it does, hammers home a plain idea.


Thus the picture on the side of one wagon is divided into
two sections. On the left is a representation of the peasants
and workmen of the Soviet Republic. Under it are the
words, "Let us not find ourselves again..." and then, in
gigantic lettering under the right-hand section of the picture,
"... in the HEAVEN OF THE WHITES." This heaven is

shown by an epauletted officer hitting a soldier in the face,
as was done in the Tsar's army and in at least one army of
the counter revolutionaries, and workmen tied to
stakes, as was done by the Whites in certain towns in the
south. Then another wagon illustrating the methods of Tsardom,
with a State vodka shop selling its wares to wretched folk,
who, when drunk on the State vodka, are flogged by the
State police. Then there is a wagon showing the different
Cossacks-of the Don, Terek, Kuban, Ural-riding in pairs.
The Cossack infantry is represented on the other side of