Graphic was created by Jacek Fedorowicz as a humoristic answer to the authorities efforts to discredit Lech Walesa as the leader of democratic opposition. To diminish Walesa's influence, the regime addressed him in the media as a "private person". It inspired Fedorowicz to draw a portrait of him, which he signed: "Portrait of an unknown man with a moustache. Second half of a 20th century". The graphic very quickly reached common recognition and was reproduced on posters and in underground publications.

The graphic was rediscovered in 2016 and used again by political activists, who defended Lech Walesa in ongoing conflict between him and the members of ruling Law and Justice party. During anti-government protests in February 2016 this graphic was visible on the posters and pins. One of the most popular Polish newspapers, Gazeta Wyborcza, in the issue from 27 February 2016 placed this graphic in a size of a poster, which was an expression of support for the protesters (http://bialystok.wyborcza.pl/bialystok/1,35235,19683962,portret-nieznanego-mezczyzny-z-wasami-w-sobote-plakat-z-wyborcza.html?disableRedirects=true).