The Failure of the German Offensive at Kaunas, Lithuania. Publ. unknown. 1914. Lubok, World War I.

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This print showing a battle scene is from the collection of World War I lubok posters held at the British Library. The caption explains, in the words of a Russian reporter for the newspaper Early Morning, September 12, 1914: "Local diplomatic circles received a message relayed through Copenhagen that an attempted advance by East Prussian troops on Kaunas suffered a decisive setback. The detachments of General Rennenkampf broke the individual advancing units of the German army with powerful attacks, causing the German offensive an enormous loss. Now the Germans are hastily pulling back the front line, and occupying a waiting position." Lubok is a Russian word for popular prints created from woodcuts, engravings, etchings, or later, by using lithography. The prints were often characterized by simple, colorful graphics depicting a narrative, and could also include text. Lubok gained popularity in Russia beginning in the late 17th century. The prints, which often depicted narratives from a historical event, literature, or a religious tale, were used to make such stories accessible to illiterate people.

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Size: 6114px × 5048px
Location: Lithuania
Photo credit: © Bill Waterson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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