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Object Timeline

1973

  • Work on this object began.

2010

  • We acquired this object.

2011

2015

2025

  • You found it!

Poster, Nocny Kowboj [Midnight Cowboy]

This is a Poster. It was designed by Waldemar Swierzy. It is dated 1973 and we acquired it in 2010. Its medium is offset lithograph on wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Under the communist regime in Poland, many artists turned to creative expression via the medium of the poster. The state did not control the visual content of posters as they were typically used to promote cultural events and were therefore not considered advertisements or political propaganda. Waldemar Swierzy’s use of abstract imagery in his movie posters, like this one for the Polish release of American director John Schlesinger's film "Midnight Cowboy," took advantage of a greater freedom to communicate potentially controversial topics; in this instance, male prostitution.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Masked Cowboy.

This object was donated by Marc Benda and Sara Benda. It is credited Gift of Sara and Marc Benda.

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

82.6 × 58.5 cm (32 1/2 × 23 1/16 in.)

It is inscribed

printed in black ink: 1636 / 3 / 1973

Cite this object as

Poster, Nocny Kowboj [Midnight Cowboy]; Designed by Waldemar Swierzy (Polish, 1931 - 2013); offset lithograph on wove paper; 82.6 × 58.5 cm (32 1/2 × 23 1/16 in.); Gift of Sara and Marc Benda; 2010-21-103

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition How Posters Work.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18758413/ |title=Poster, Nocny Kowboj [Midnight Cowboy] |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=23 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>