Large portraits of Mao on wooden boards several feet high stood at main street corners. Painted to make the old man look extremely youthful, healthy, and fat {a sign of well-being in China}, these pictures provided a mocking contrast to the thin, pale-faced pedestrians walking listlessly below them. Pg. 193
In the streets of Shanghai, large and vibrant portraits of Mao Zedong tower over passersby, constructed on wooden boards that loom several feet high at various intersections. These paintings depict Mao as robust and youthful, symbolizing health and prosperity, a stark contrast to the reality of the citizens beneath them.
The pedestrians, characterized by their thin and pale appearances, seem to embody a world of hardship as they meander through the streets. The juxtaposition of Mao's idealized image and the somber faces of the people serves as a poignant reminder of the disconnect between the state's propaganda and the lived experiences of the citizens.