The best Soviet posters of the Banya
How the USSR adapted the traditional Russian symbol of the bathhouse
This collection of posters mostly date back to the Soviet era. The origins of the posters stretch from Russia to Mongolia and Ukraine, and were predominantly created to encourage the general public to use the banya. Noticeably, many of the posters focus on practicality and hygiene rather than socialising in the banya — from highlighting the dangers of dirt to illustrating ideal layouts for well functioning banyas, the images depict hard working civilians who visit the banya as part of a healthy lifestyle. It is clear from the nature of these images that the running of banyas had become an interest of the state.
Most of these images come from Ethan Pollock’s book Without The Banya We Would Perish, available from the Pushkin House Shop now.
This Soviet poster encouraging hygiene among industrial workers carries the caption in Ukrainian, “GO TO THE BANYA AFTER WORK”.
This pre-Soviet WW1 poster advertises the mobile banyas used by the Russian army to boost morale and cleanliness among the troops.
“FOR EVERY COLLECTIVE FARM — A WELL-BUILT BANYA”.
This Moldovan poster advertises a model for banyas on collective farms.
This Soviet poster includes a message in Mongolian.
“DIRT IS THE SOURCE OF DISEASE. Wash at the banya and change your bed-linen no less than once a week.
These film posters were created for a 1962 animation directed by Anatoliy Karanovich and Sergei Yutkevic, based on a 1930 play by Vladimir Mayakovsky. The film is experimental and satirises the bureaucracy. Other than a brief mention during the introduction, there is no sign of a banya in the film — most likely a reflection on 1930, as there were not enough banyas to cater to the population at this point; the banya was in demand but lacking, and its absence from the narrative suggests just that.
The final image here, provided by Andrei Fomin at Banya No.1, distributed from around 1986-1988, has a heavier focus on the banya as a traditional practice that supposedly helps you lose weight and cures you of ailments. With less of a concentration on washing, this is an indication that hygiene was no longer such an issue for the state. As water became more accessible in the home, the banya was free to focus again on its rural origins, with ritual and community at its core.
About the author
Madeleine Cuckson is an English Literature and Drama graduate from The University of Manchester. Since finishing her studies, Madeleine has worked in both the post-production film and experiential design industry - private and charity sector. Madeleine has a specific interest in Russia’s arts and cultural history with a current focus on performance and the Ballets Russes.
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