Size: 97x70cm. / 18.7×13.4 inch.
Designed and printed in 1990.
This poster was one of three designs made by Istvan Orosz of his own accord and offered to the Hungarian Democratic Forum. The fragment of a crucifixion scene is an expression of sympathy for those who died in the revolution in Romania in 1989.
The town Timisoara (in Romanian) or Temesvár (in Hungarian), was the flash point for events that resulted in the overthrow of Ceausescu’s communist dictatorship in Romania. The fact that the revolution was a common cause for Romanians and Hungarians is emphasized by the image of a double arm and the two squares in the countries’ national colours.
Orosz’s posters were among the most popular graphic designs during the period of political transition in Hungary. At the same time, they were considered works of high artistic quality and collectors’ pieces.
In December 1989 a popular uprising began in Timișoara against the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu. The Hungarian Calvinist pastor László Tőkés was ordered to be deported by the Securitate, or secret police, and as a reaction his house was surrounded by members of his church.
The Communist administration ordered the army to fire at the congregation. However, a number of army officers refused to open fire and sided with the people. That was the beginning of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, which ended the Communist regime a week later.
Timișoara was declared the first Free Town on 20 December 1989, suffering 1,104 reported deaths and 3,352 wounded during the revolution.
