Poster — National Spring Clean, Hungary, ca. 1990-1991
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1990-1991
Poster in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number E.2060-1991), made in Hungary, dated ca. 1990-1991, attributed to Sandor, Lezsák. The museum's brief description reads: Poster, 'National Spring Clean', colour offset lithograph printed on paper, Magyar Demokrata Forum, Hungary, ca. 1990-91. Museum description: Poster advertising a national spring clean in Hungary. It has a white background with black text and features a rubbish bin overflowing with refuse, some of which has spilled onto the floor. The museum records it as Colour offset lithograph printed on paper, measuring Height 48.2 cm; Width 67 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The slogan on this poster refers to the intention of the Hungarian Democratic Forum to do away with the remnants of the communist regime. The idea is illustrated by a colour photograph of a dustbin filled with communist propaganda paraphernalia. The poster is the work of Béla Aba, who designed the corporate identity for the Hungarian Democratic Forum during the campaign for the first free elections in Hungary following the collapse of communism. All three elements of the graphic identity appear on this poster: the full name of the party (Magyar Demokrata Fórum), its abbreviation (MDF), both in an elegant 'Antiqua' font, and the party emblem based on a stylized palmette plant motif. Aba kept this motif as a flat form in pure green, but later versions added red and white colours and developed the emblem into a tulip. Both the palmette motive and the tulip appealed to the conservative voters because they are associated with old Hungarian cultural traditions. Stylized plant motives decorated the robes and arms of the Hungarian tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. The tulip is a characteristic motive of Hungarian folk art. The popularity of the logo was enhanced by rumour that it was invented by Levente Szörényi, a popular pop singer and composer. Aba did indeed use a sketch by Szörényi with whom he was friendly. However, the original drawing was profoundly modified by the designer.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- printing ink, paper
- Dimensions
- Height 48.2 cm; Width 67 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Colour offset lithograph printed on paper
- Maker recorded
- Sandor, Lezsák
- Place recorded
- Hungary
Identification
- Museum object name
- Poster
- Museum object number
- E.2060-1991
- Museum system number
- O196111
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.