In The Spotlight: Spanish Civil War Posters

The Spanish Civil War – Guerra Civil Espanola – began in July 1936 with a military coup led by the Nationalists (supported by Italy under its fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, and the German Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler) against the left wing Republican government of Spain (supported by the Soviet communist leader, Josef Stalin, and volunteers from North America and various European countries of the International Brigade) following a long period of unrest during the 19th century, the economic hardship caused by the 1929 Great Depression, and the February 1936 election victory by the Popular Front under the leadership of President Manuel Azana. This violent war is widely recognised as a rehearsal of World War Two, and resulted in a death toll of around half a million lives, and a Nationalist victory in April 1939 that established a dictatorship government led by General Francisco Franco (“Franco’s Spain”).

The mass of powerful propaganda posters produced by organisations affiliated with both sides during the Civil War were pasted all over cities, towns and buildings in ruins. The intensity of their display with their dynamic designs and strong messages, often created by leading artists and groups of the period, were influential in spreading awareness of the war throughout Spain and abroad. The posters that survived to today are rare and very important historical documents of this terrible revolution and the extreme ideology of the inter-war period in Europe.

Below are a few of our original vintage posters from the Spanish Civil War period (click on the images for more information):

 
 
   
   
   
 
   
 
 

Visit our website at www.AntikBar.co.uk for more original vintage Spanish Civil War propaganda posters and to browse our variety of other posters from around the world (travel, sport, propaganda, war, advertising and movie posters), available online with worldwide delivery and at our gallery:

AntikBar – Original Vintage Posters
404 King’s Road, London SW10 0LJ

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AntikBar is a Member of the International Vintage Poster Dealers’ Association (IVPDA), UK Posters Network, London Art Deco Society, King’s Road Curve and The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers (LAPADA).