Propaganda Posters

currently showing at the Women’s Museum

Images of Vietnamese Women in Propaganda Posters 1954-1975

The rise of propaganda art in Viet Nam followed the formation of the Indochina Communist Party and the Resistance movement (Viet Minh). In 1954, Ho Chi Minh declared independence from the French and founded the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh encouraged “nationalism” in art and literature to assist the goal of national independence. Art was an important tool in the French and American Wars.

This exhibition features 40 posters from the Vietnamese Women’s Museum collection. The posters from the period between 19541 and 1975 reflect the hard working, productive and fighting life of North and South Vietnamese people in their struggle against the US enemy.

The posters variously encourage the Vietnamese people to expand agricultural and industrial production, support the war, maintain their morale and to always believe in a national victory. The posters from this era portray and reflect significant milestones and a variety of  cultural and historical values.

The exhibition “ Images of Vietnamese women in Propaganda Posters (1954-1975)” includes  paintings by well known Vietnamese artists which are divided into three major themes:

Women involved in  production and reconstruction of the country
Women fighting and defending the country against enemies
Women on Reunification Day.

While the posters have artistic merit the exhibition will also help the public to understand more about the roles and contributions of Vietnamese women to the national history and development of the country.