These images would have represented two countries coming together to share a love of Communism and raising their children to be communists.Ĭhina and the Soviet Union were both rather homophobic societies.

Moreover, the socialist fraternal kiss was very common back then, and even today if you go to certain countries, men still kiss on the mouth, and that’s not considered a sign of homosexuality. Much of this public-facing design was meant to celebrate hearty, robust workers, rosy-cheeked and clearly enjoying themselves.

“Let Chinese – Soviet friendship live forever”.Īccording to Angelina Lippert of Poster House, the concept of fraternity, especially between countries fighting the pre-established system of capitalism, often drove these intimate portraits, adding that when Stalin came to power, the only acceptable style of art became Socialist Realism.