"Che" Si
Roman Cieslewicz
French, born Poland. 1930–1996
1967-1968
A photolithograph poster that turns an iconic revolutionary portrait into a powerfully simplified, Pop-inflected image, using stark silhouettes and bold typography to make a political statement.
You’d first notice the huge black silhouette cut against blazing red and magenta, an orange face interrupted by the blocky letters “CHE SI” and a tiny star on the beret, so the design reads like a shouted slogan rather than a detailed likeness.
Created in the late 1960s, this work exemplifies how graphic designers reduced photographic images into flat color and type to produce instantly legible political icons, a strategy that reshaped protest posters and mass visual culture.
Medium
Photolithograph
Dimensions
32 1/4 x 21 5/8" (81.9 x 54.9 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Gift of the designer
Accession
1788.2008
Palette
Exhibitions
