The poster has been an advertising and informative tool for over a hundred years. But the unique style of Polish designs that is known today originated during the chaotic period between the two world wars. What was known as the Golden Age began a couple decades later. In 1956, several factors, including social attitudes and political changes, lead to a dramatic change in style and content of posters. Censorship was limited, creativity was intense, and boundaries were crossed.

Continuing on the edge of human expression, the artists pushed the Poster forward and gained international recognition. In the late 50s and 60s, a particular style developed, called teratology—the study of monsters. It is a style that uses unnatural and sometimes grotesque forms to shock and evoke emotion. In an essay on Polish posters, Ewa Kruszewska remarked, “Due to the orderer’s profound policy a great number of film posters appeared, featuring audacity of form, expression of gestures and extensive psychological analysis of the characters.” A characteristic of Polish posters that has remained strongly present throughout the latter half of the past century and in current works.