Sàndor
Èk was a Hungarian graphic artist and committed communist who became known for
contributing antifascist designs to radical leftist German publications. Living
in Berlin between 1925 and 1933, Èk created political posters and magazine
covers for newspapers such as Die Rote
Fahne [The Red Flag], the official organ of the Communist Party of Germany.
This photomontage, a rare original design, calls to mind the avant-garde
anti-Nazi propaganda produced by Èk’s friend John Heartfield, who was a fellow
illustrator at the Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung
[Workers’ Illustrated Magazine]. Superimposing an image of workers marching
toward the camera over a clockface about to strike midnight, Èk suggests the
urgency of the struggle for amnesty referenced by the German text.

The
“AX” at the upper right-hand corner was the signature Èk used, designating his
adopted German name of Alex Keil.