Created in Cuba in 1970 by Lázaro Abreu Padrón, this original OSPAAAL poster commemorates the International Day of Solidarity with the Arab People of Syria, observed on March 8. Its message is printed in Spanish, French, English and Arabic, reflecting the international audience for which OSPAAAL’s political graphics were intended.
At the centre of the composition, the stylized profile of an Arab man wearing a traditional headdress is enclosed within a powerful circular emblem. Concentric bands and three green stars refer directly to the Syrian flag then in use, transforming the portrait into a symbol of collective national identity.
A rifle and bayonet rise vertically behind the central medallion, while an orange form resembling both a flame and a waving banner dominates the upper section. Green branches surround the image and cross beneath it, introducing traditional associations with peace and victory. The combination of weaponry and peaceful symbolism expresses the tension between armed resistance and the hope for liberation.
OSPAAAL—the Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America—was established in Havana following the 1966 Tricontinental Conference. Its posters supported revolutionary, anti-colonial and national-liberation movements throughout the developing world. Lázaro Abreu Padrón was one of the Cuban designers associated with the organization’s influential visual output, producing posters and illustrations characterized by bold symbolism, flat colours and exceptional graphic clarity.
Printed in offset, this original 1970 poster is a striking example of Cuban revolutionary graphic design. Its dramatic palette, multilingual typography and important connection with OSPAAAL make it particularly appealing to collectors of political posters, Cold War history, Middle Eastern subjects and twentieth-century protest art.
Original Poster
Middle East - Politics
Cuba - Ospaaal
Good condition, one small tear
Sign up & benefit from discounts or exclusive offers.