This Restaurant Serves Only One Person (1953) Framed Poster
About the Artwork
This Restaurant Serves Only One Person (Russian: В этом ресторане обслуживают только одну персону) is a 1953 caricature by Yuliy Ganf (Юлий Ганф) that appeared in the Soviet magazine, Krokodil.
The caricature shows a restaurant in which а slew of busy businessmen-waiters are eagerly serving a soldier (with "War" written on his back) piles of money. Meanwhile, at the other tables in the restaurant sit representatives of "Health Care," "Schools," "Libraries," and "Art." They'll go hungry and won't be receiving any money, though, as the restaurant only serves one customer - war.
This powerful piece of political satire gives a universal and timeless critique of government's enormous military spending. That the Soviet Union consistently spent a greater share of its GDP on its military than did the United States does slightly take away from the message, though. Nevertheless, there's a reason this work of art resonates with so many people around the world to this day - it reveals a deeply held feeling many of us have about misplaced government priorities.
Below you can see a copy of the original artwork, bearing the title presumably of the restaurant, "In the American" (В Американке). Underneath you'll also find an English-language copy.
Original Artwork
American Version
Framed Poster Quality
Make a statement in any room with this framed poster, printed on thick, durable, matte paper. The matte black frame that's made from wood from renewable forests adds an extra touch of class.
Please note, all poster sizes are in inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm).
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 5.57 oz/y² (189 g/m²)
• Alder, semi-hardwood frame
• Black .75” thick frame
• Acrylite front protector
• Lightweight
• Hanging hardware included
