China Unknown
Let's Mobilize!

1969
color rotogravure on paper
30 x 20.75 in.
2010.237
Gift of Richard W. Bodman

An offset printed image portraying young people leaving the city for the countryside in 1968. Mao’s quote reads: “It’s very necessary that educated youth go to the countryside and receive re-education at the hands of the poor, lower and middle peasants. … Let’s mobilize….”.  The city is filled with young people waving the little red book, swearing allegiance to portraits of Chairman Mao, or writing big character posters. At the front are two posters: “Thoroughly criticize Liu Shaoqi’s theory of ‘reading books and holding office.’” And “Down with Liu Shaoqi.” Image number seven on the wall here is a big character poster criticizing Liu Shaoqi and his lack of support for Chinese medicine.