Chinese # 110 - Memorial Boat

This Chinese poster depicts the historic landscape of Shaoshan in Hunan Province, the birthplace of Mao Zedong (1893–1976). A traditional covered passenger boat crosses the water in the foreground, while wooded hills, traditional buildings and a pavilion rise through the atmospheric landscape behind it. Along the shore, a procession carries a series of placards whose characters together read “中国共产党万岁” — “Long Live the Communist Party of China.”The English caption printed beneath the image identifies the subject as Mao’s birthplace and describes Shaoshan as a place associated with the history of the Chinese Communist movement. Unlike many propaganda posters that use heroic figures, factories or mass demonstrations as their primary imagery, this work employs a traditional Chinese landscape to connect revolutionary history with a specific place.Shaoshan became an important site of revolutionary commemoration during the Mao era. Mao was born there in 1893, and his family home and surrounding area subsequently became a major destination for visitors seeking locations associated with his early life. Posters and prints depicting Shaoshan helped establish the landscape itself as part of the visual history of the Chinese Communist revolution.The artist of this poster has not been identified from the information presently available. Its combination of traditional landscape painting, carefully rendered architecture and overt political symbolism makes it an interesting example of Chinese propaganda imagery devoted to revolutionary history and commemoration.This is an Original Vintage Poster, it is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.