The Future Was Then: an Exhibition of Fascist Italian Posters

kottke.org September 30, 2025 By Jason Kottke

a pair of early 20th century Italian posters

Speaking of Benito Mussolini and fascism, the excellent Poster House museum in NYC has a new exhibition on for the next few months: The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy. It features “some of the best posters produced during the worst period in modern Italian history”.

In a fascist movement inspired by art, how does the fascist government influence the artists living in its grasp? This exhibition explores how Benito Mussolini’s government created a broad-reaching culture that grew with and into the Futurist movement to claw into advertising, propaganda, and the very heart of the nation he commanded.

a poster for Fiat with a man wearing oil cans on each of his hands and feet

a pair of early 20th century Italian posters

That Lubrificanti Fiat poster is incredible. The Future Was Then is on view at Poster House until Feb 22, 2026.

Tags: advertising · art · Benito Mussolini · Italy · museums · NYC · politics · Poster House

💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org

a pair of early 20th century Italian posters

Speaking of Benito Mussolini and fascism, the excellent Poster House museum in NYC has a new exhibition on for the next few months: The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy. It features “some of the best posters produced during the worst period in modern Italian history”.

In a fascist movement inspired by art, how does the fascist government influence the artists living in its grasp? This exhibition explores how Benito Mussolini’s government created a broad-reaching culture that grew with and into the Futurist movement to claw into advertising, propaganda, and the very heart of the nation he commanded.

a poster for Fiat with a man wearing oil cans on each of his hands and feet

a pair of early 20th century Italian posters

That Lubrificanti Fiat poster is incredible. The Future Was Then is on view at Poster House until Feb 22, 2026.

Tags: advertising · art · Benito Mussolini · Italy · museums · NYC · politics · Poster House

💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org

Comments 0

Log in to post a comment.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Source Information
kottke.org
Web Publication

Published on September 30, 2025 by Jason Kottke

Visit Original Article
Advertise with Us

Reach our audience with your ads