Anonymous - poster politico Cina 1967 - La galleria dei mostri (politici) - 1960s

《Qún chǒu tú》 (Qún chǒu tú) – The Gallery of Monsters
Originally drawn in February 1967 by twenty-two-year-old student Weng Rulan (then a student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing), the poster Qún chǒu tú (commonly translated as "A Crowd of Buffoons" or "The Parade of the Clowns") stands as one of the most powerful and terrifying examples of visual propaganda and political-press media lynching in twentieth-century history.

The composition depicts a bizarre and chaotic procession moving from left to right, symbolically directed toward the abyss of capitalism. Despite the density of subjects, the spatial arrangement is masterfully managed to guide the eye toward the political leaders positioned at the center. Ruthless characterization: the designer demonstrates extraordinary skill in capturing the real facial features of the political targets, yet deforming them into submissive, frightened, or slimy expressions. The leaders are no longer national guides, but grotesque puppets devoid of dignity.

The poster functions as a true "manual for identifying enemies of the State" for the Red Guards of the era: at the center stand out Liu Shaoqi (then President of the People’s Republic) seated on a litter bearing the inscription "Treatise on Personal Cultivation" (to ridicule his book), and Deng Xiaoping following him on a small cart (滑竿, huágān).

The court of the "demons": Around them, an entire court of important officials (including Peng Zhen, Lu Dingyi, Luo Ruiqing, and Yang Shangkun) is depicted beating drums, fanning themselves, or serving, to indicate the dense network of the so-called capitalist faction.

The text: The two enormous vertical and horizontal slogans frame the scene with dramatic tones: "Never forget the class struggle! Sweep away all demons and evil spirits!".

Small defects and imperfections as in the photo