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Collection of posters
A
poster, as potential source for studying of human culture could be traced
far back in the past. However, the poster as it is understood today did not
emerge until around 1860.
The
collection of posters in the Historical Museum of Serbia ranges among
important ones, which provide not only relevant knowledge about the past
but also very expressive decorativeness, exceptionally important in
exhibiting.
According
to their purpose and specific features, posters are intended to announce or
advertise a product, event and even a sentiment, such as patriotism. Much
of the collection, however, comprises posters related to political and
cultural events, and appears in various forms, ranging from agenda
interpretations and proclamations to explanations of different political,
economic and cultural events.
Regardless
the object of its promotion, a poster must immediately catch the attention
of the passerby, whether by its content or an ornate work of art. The
content itself as well as its conviction are of exceptional importance.
Accordingly, the style and dramatic quality of a text can turn it into
genuine rhetoric masterpieces. Speaking of modern Serbian history, interest
in the poster was heightened by appearance of political parties in the late
19th century. Then they became an art that could influence not
only certain events but also entire history. Politically the most important
of all visual media, they could be easily produced and posted wherever
there was a public to see them. Thus the propagandistic posters became
powerful means of struggle among the political parties, which often used
them to discredit their political opponents or to justify their own causes.
Apart
from their documentary and cognitive importance, the posters in history
museums have museological value, often showed when displayed in various
exhibitions.
The
collection numbers over 1200 pieces of various types of posters, ranging
from advertisements, leaflets, agendas, pamphlets, and propagandistic and
promotional materials. Much of them reveal the history of multi party
system in Serbia, introduced in early 1990s, as
well as the genesis of some political parties, party coalitions, and
independent associations. Of particular importance are those related to the
turning point of modern Serbian history (October 5, 2000).
Also,
the posters are testimony to the destiny of marginal parties, which either
vanished from the scene or integrated with others. The same is with posters
of numerous front-runners for primary elections in Serbia, usually printed in small
number of copies and with a minimum of publicity.
The 2003 Primary elections in Serbia
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