Chinese # 5 Construction

This striking Chinese propaganda poster, measuring approximately 21 x 30 inches, is titled 当代愚公移山图 (Dangdai Yugong Yishan Tu), which translates as “Contemporary Yu Gong Moves the Mountains.” The title refers to the ancient Chinese parable of Yu Gong, the “Foolish Old Man,” whose determination to remove mountains blocking his village became a celebrated symbol of perseverance and collective effort.Here, the traditional story is transformed into a modern industrial achievement. The poster is divided into two vertical scenes showing large-scale construction in progress. Crowds of workers, trucks, machinery, earthworks and building materials fill the composition. In the right panel, a large gathering carrying red flags emphasizes organized mass participation, while the left panel depicts the physical labor and machinery required to reshape the landscape. The elevated viewpoint allows the viewer to see the project almost as a diagram, reinforcing the scale and coordination of the undertaking.The phrase “Yu Gong Moves the Mountains” acquired particular importance in twentieth-century China as a metaphor for overcoming enormous obstacles through persistence and collective action. The story had already been given powerful modern expression by artist Xu Beihong (1895–1953), whose monumental 1940 painting of the subject used the ancient legend to symbolize determination during China's struggle against Japanese invasion. In later Chinese political and social imagery, the theme became closely associated with the transformation of the country through large public works, industrial development and collective labor.The poster is an excellent example of Chinese propaganda art in which a familiar historical expression is adapted to celebrate contemporary modernization. Rather than portraying the legendary Yu Gong literally, the workers themselves become the “modern Yu Gong,” accomplishing through engineering, machinery and coordinated labor what the legendary figure attempted through sheer persistence.The artist of this poster has not been identified from the information presently available. 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.