Box 13-G-11
Vladimir Menshikov (1933-1994). Бога Нет! (There is no god!) , 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16 ½" unframed)
Depicts a cosmonaut in a red uniform in flight above the spires of a church.
Titled and inscribed with publication information to the viewer's left, with publishing house logo. "Battle Pencil/Khudozhnik RSFSR Publishing/Artist: V. Menshsikov/WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57," numbered "A 80202-224/M173(03)-75 – 75" and marked "© Khudozhnik RSFSR Publishing House." Inscribed "There's no god here" in large white letters in the center of the composition.
Box 13-G-11
В одном селе "виденье" было... (In one village there was a vision…)
, 1975, 1 poster
(16 ½" x 22")
One side depicts an angel walking along a path away from a settlement, while the other shows a man in a long coat holding a goose by the neck behind his back.
"In one village there was a 'vision'…/Both old and young talked about it/They say that a white-winged angel/Flew to the local poultry coop…" "But, in truth, it wouldn't be bad for everyone to know/including the prosecutor in this case:/When a miracle descends from heaven/Look for a clue on earth." Inscribed with publishing house logo and "© Publishing House Khudozhnik RSFSR 1975" in the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. [illegible]. Price of the poster: [illegible]/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Josef Efimovsky (1930-2019), verse by Aleksandr Shklyarinsky. И мне все равно, только бы сдала научный атеизм... (It's all the same to me, if I were only to pass scientific atheism), 1975, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a disdainful middle-aged couple in front of a doorway, through which a young woman can be seen praying, carrying a book titled "Scientific Atheism".
With the verse "They know very well, by god/that it's shameful to worship her god./But they take and do not think of these measures/for they themselves are hypocrites" printed beneath the title. With the publishing house logo, names of artists, and copyright information printer in the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Matvei Mazrukho (1911-2000) and verses by S. Smirnovsky: Плата за страх (Pay for fear), 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts an elderly couple kneeling to put money into a locked box emblazoned with an Orthodox cross, while demons prod nude figures into an inferno in the background.
With the publishers' logo and artists' names in the upper left corner, the verse "Bring money to god's temple,/in paradise you will be rewarded for everything./You do not need earthly goods/they are the tools of Satan./This is the call of the lord's servants—/they lead the naïve into fear/ and worship their own money/here on earth, not in heaven" below the image, and with copyright information printed lower right and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right
The artist is listed on the poster as "N. Mazrukho," but available records suggest Matvei Mazrukho as the artist associated with this publishing house at this time.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Boris Semyonov (1910-1990) and verses by S. Smirnovsky Звонари (Bell Ringers)
, 1975, 1 poster
(16½" x 22")
One side depicts an Orthodox priest ringing a giant church bell, while the other depicts a bureaucrat on the telephone in front of a poster labeled "Plan for Atheist Labor"
With the publishers' logo and artists' names in the lower left corner, the verse "The bell-ringing will not stop there/where the telephone supports all atheists" below the image, and with copyright information printed lower right and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Vladimir Menshikov (1933-1994) and verses by V. Khochinsky На работу не пойдем: пыстые ведра—плохая примета! (We will not go to work: empty buckets are a bad omen!)
, 1975, 1 poster
(16½" x 22")
In the foreground, a group of peasants watch with trepidation as a young woman approaches carrying empty buckets. In the background, a group of people walk into a tractor repair facility.
With the verse "These drunks show some concern—how to find an excuse not to work./They don't believe in any omens/but in order not to work, they will believe in this!" above the title and the publishing house logo, names of artists, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Josef Efimovsky (1930-2019), verse by V. Kapralova Мы с вами где-то встречались? (Have we met somewhere before?)
, 1975, 1 poster
(16½" x 22")
On one side, a woman kneels before a priest who is offering her holy water to treat a toothache. On the other side, the woman and the priest both sit in the waiting room of a dentist's office.
With the verse "The witch doctor told her: 'I will heal you! But don't be stingy, understood?' But he himself ran to the doctor, where he is treated for free" below the image, the publishing house logo and names of artists in the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Boris Semyonov (1910-1990) and verses by S. Smirnovsky Хата с краю (A Hut on the Edge)
, 1975, 1 poster
(16½" x 22")
Depicts a rustic hut in which a grizzled old woman tells the fortune of a frivolous-looking young woman. In the background, a group of young people are gathered in front of a closed club.
With the verse "The fortuneteller is now known to everyone around/They look to her for salvation from boredom./This puts an end to all cultural work/and the old lady is satisfied: she holds all the cards" below the title in the viewer's upper right corner, the publishing house logo and names of artists in the viewer's upper left, copyright information in the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Viktor Travin (1925-2009) and verses by Henry Tumarinson (1935-2015) Света божьего не видишь (You do not see God's light)
, 1975, 1 poster
(16½" x 22")
Depicts a young boy and an old woman in a darkened domestic interior rendered in shades of blue. The woman angrily urges the boy to look at an icon hanging on the wall, while the boy looks out the window towards a brightly colored scene of a scout troop on parade.
With the verse "What good is the light of the lamp to your grandson?/He has no love for the black icons./Your grandson pulls towards the sports field/towards the loud horn of the Young Pioneers" below the title in the viewer's lower left, the publishing house logo, names of artists, copyright information, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower left corner.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Josef Efimovsky (1930-2019), and verses by M. Romanov (dates unknown) Явление Народу (A phenomenon for the people)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts a stylized hippie strolling along a beach wearing a large crucifix necklace.
With the verse "He will put on a half-pound weight as long as it is fashionable/a chain crowned with a golden cross" in the viewer's lower right, the publishing house logo, names of artists, copyright information, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower left corner.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Georgy Svetozarov (1947-2019), and verses by S. Smirnovsky Сотворение Кадров (Creation of a Cadre)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Four panels depicting an old woman leading her young grandchild around a church, pointing out various features.
With the verses "The story of how Granny Neonila lured her grandchild to the churchmen/Let's go, grandkids, to god's temple/and you will see how miraculous it is there./These are not simple pictures/the saints are drawn here./Pray to god every day/so that trouble won't befall you./And you will be able to serve here./This work is pleasing to god" beneath each image panel, and the caption "The trouble is that fanatical old women bring up their grandchildren in the same spirit" in the center below the images, the publishing house logo, names of artists, and copyright information in the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right corner.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Efim Rabinovich (b. 1925), and verses by V. Khochinsky Заступник ты наш! (You are our defender!)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts a man in the garb of an Orthodox priest kneeling to kiss the padlock on a shuttered club, while in the background young people troop towards a church.
With the verse "Where the club is long closed/they go to church, as though to the cinema" in the center below the title, the publishing house logo, names of artists, and copyright information to the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right corner.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Vladislav Kyunnap (1923-1995) and verses by V. Alekseev Туристское облачение...и разоблачение (Tourist clothing…and disrobing)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
The top panel depicts a portly tourist in mountain-climbers' apparel, while the bottom panel depicts the man being hoisted on a boom barrier, such that bibles spill out of his coat, by a border patrol agent in Soviet uniform.
With the verse "For the agents of the evil enemy/This is a memorable lesson/We do not allow guests with such luggage/past the doorstep" in the center below the title, the publishing house logo, names of artists, and copyright information to the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right corner.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Viktor Travin (1925-2009) and verses by Henry Tumarinson (1935-2015) Поп-музыка (Pop Music)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16 ½")
Depicts an audience of stereotypical hippies, some with radios or musical instruments, watching a concert of monks and nuns playing jazz instruments in a darkened interior space in front of a large pipe organ.
With the names of artists printed in the upper left next to the title, the verse "Jazz thunders for the glory of god/They need contact with the youth/First they go on the attack with rhythms/Then after the rhythms, prayers" in the center below the image, the publishing house logo, and copyright information to the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Yuri Tryunyov (1921-1986) and verses by V. Alekseev Секта (Sect)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts several fish-people clustering towards a ticket at the end of a fishhook. The ticket reads "Ticket/Destination station:/The Kingdom of Heaven/one way."
With the publishing house logo and names of artists printed in the upper left corner, the verse "It's a cleverly conceived lie:/ 'You'll go to heaven when you die'/You'll die, but won't return/to refute that lie" in the lower right below the image, the copyright information to the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Leonid Khudyakov (1921-1986) and verses by D. Tolmachev Благослови, Владыко! (Bless you, Lord!)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts an old woman bowing to receive benediction from a stereotypical hippie with a guitar over one shoulder.
With the verse "As you can see, slave of god/Your eyes have grown weak:/You consider the slave of fashion/to be your lord" in the lower right below the image, the publishing house logo, names of artists, and copyright information to the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Vladimir Galba (1908-1984) and verses by V. Shumilin Чертова дюжина (A devil's dozen)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts a group of people attending a lecture titled "Lecture on Superstition," all leaving the 13th seat in each row of the lecture hall empty.
With the verse "He tries to end/superstition everywhere/but they avoid taking/the thirteenth seat" in the center between the lecturer and audience, the publishing house logo and names of artists to the left of the audience, and copyright information in the viewer's lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Dmitry Oboznenko (1930-2002) and verses by V. Khochinsky Спорим на пол-литра молоко, что сегодня лекции не будет (We bet a half-liter of milk that there will be no lecture today)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Each panel depicts two cats, one black and one tabby, in an archway near a sign announcing "Today at the VEK Club: A lecture on signs of prejudice." In the top panel, a man in an overcoat approaches carrying a sheaf of papers under one arm, and in the bottom panel, he retreats, having dropped his papers.
With the verse "The black cat said to his girlfriend/'I bet that the lecturer won't pass by.'/No wonder the cat was so sure,/he knew that the lecturer was superstitious" in the center between panels, the publishing house logo and names of artists in the upper left corner, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" with the copyright information printed in the viewer's lower left.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Efim Rabinovich (b. 1925) and verses by V. Naprolova Атеист спит...а служба идет! (The atheist sleeps…but the service continues)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
A small man in spectacles sleeps on top of a pile of atheist literature beneath a document titled "Atheist Work," while in the panel below, women of all ages participate in an Orthodox church service
With the verse "He serves the same pop prayer/for the health of an atheist" below the images, the publishing house logo and names of artists in the upper left corner, copyright information in the lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Illustration by Vladislav Kyunnap (1923-1995) and verses by V. Alekseev У беспринципных... (The unprincipled…)
, 1975, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts the scene of a wedding taking place in front of an Orthodox church.
With the verse "The unprincipled—it's no secret—/have a principle like this:/It's convenient to say there is no god/It's convenient to go to church" below the image, the publishing house logo and names of artists in the upper left corner, copyright information in the lower left, and "WITHOUT GOD THE ROAD IS WIDER/Publ. no. 564074. Edition size: 5000. Zak. 8253. Price of the poster: 8 kopecks/Order of the Red Banner of Labor/Bolodarsky Leninist Printing House/191023 Leningrad, Fontanka, 57" printed in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
К вышестоящему—лакей, к нижестоящему—вельможа (To his superiors, a lackey, to his inferiors, a grandee)
, ca. 1950-1970, 1 poster
(26" x 18⅞")
Depicts a man in business apparel on a staircase, oriented so that he is bowing to figure above him on the stairs while disdainfully leaning away from a lower figure handing him a note.
"To his superiors, a lackey/To his inferiors, a grandee/This campaigner is a small tyrant/to all before him, always two-faced/Crack/beneath him,/career ladder,/let it as soon as possible/crack/to the ground!" Signed "Kukryniksy" in the viewer's lower left.
Box 13-G-11
Спец-Пьец (Special Drunkard)
, ca. 1950-1970, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a vodka bottle wearing overalls with a man's head emerging from the neck. His features are reddened in the manner of a drunk, and he is overlooking an industrial vice.
With the verse "Special Drunkard/Why would he loom timidly over the machine for an hour, or two, or three? Alas, the answer is the cork, and forty percent inside" printed in the viewer's upper left, signed "Kukryniksy" in the viewer's lower right.
Box 13-G-11
Зарубка на память (A notch to remember)
, ca. 1950-1070, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a woman in a blue beret behind a counter topped with milk bottles about to hurl a bottle at an unseen person. A yellow sign above her head reads "Be polite to each other."
With the verse "A notch to remember/It doesn't suit a citizen shopkeeper to act like an evil landmine/If you communicate with people, don't be harsh or rude" printed in the viewer's upper left.
Box 13-G-11
Знакомая... "Насекомая" (A familiar insect)
, ca. 1950-1970, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a woman in a pink robe with four arms, simultaneously turning a lock, pouring kerosene into a kettle, posting a letter, and emptying a dustpan.
With the verse "Here, in our common house, these creatures live—no, no! Let's help them die out" printed in the viewer's upper left. Signed "Kupryniksy" in the viewer's lower left.
Box 13-G-11
По-Вальный Бракогон (Rampant [I'm not sure what Brakogon means, it must be a slang term])
, ca. 1950-1970, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a man wearing a pot as a hat angrily toting a dressmaker's dummy over one shoulder.
With the verse "Such a trendsetter hurries to press all the pedals./Bear in mind, inveterate bungler, that all patience has a limit." Signed "Kukryniksy" in the viewer's lower left.
Box 13-G-11
Стрекозел-Многолюбец (The Amorous Dragonfly)
, ca 1950-1970, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a man in a blue plaid coat bending to kiss the hand of an unseen woman. He has female faces reflected in his glasses and is wearing a pair of women's stockings as a necktie. With one hand, he offers a bouquet to another unseen woman.
With the verse "This one—smooch!/A second one—smooch! A third he loves on the sly…/But he has only one love/She is a dragonfly" in the upper left corner, and the signature "Kukryniksy" printed in the plate in the viewer's lower left corner.
Box 13-G-11
Особо Вредная Особа (A particularly harmful person)
, undated, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a man with hands for feet sitting contorted atop a safe, using his prehensile toes to lift banknotes into a series of purses attached to the front of his coat.
With the verse " 'I,' he says, 'worry about the state treasury from the outside. I am not inclined to honest work, so I steal acrobatically'" printed in the upper right corner.
Box 13-G-11
Фигура анонима (An anonymous figure)
, ca. 1950-1970, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
With the verse "An anonymous figure/(Don't pass by!)/He looks not without danger/The features of his face in a smarmy mask/But even so, from underneath/the nature of a scoundrel shows through" printed in the upper left corner, with the name "Kukryniksy" in the lower left corner.
Box 13-G-11
Агрегат-Тунеяд (An Aggregate Parasite)
, ca. 1950-1970, 1 poster
(22" x 16½")
Depicts a hungry-looking man with a spoon and fork for hands sitting in a striped armchair against a green background
With the verse "The dream of his ardent nature/is to sit and work with a knife and fork./His main feature/nothing passes by his mouth."
Box 13-G-11
Кабинетный экспонат (A cabinet exhibition piece)
, ca. 1950-1970
, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts an anthropomorphized chair with a human head wearing a necktie seated in front of a desk.
With the verse "He is in the thick of things/but wasn't efficient/so whom has such a boss become?/Now before us is simply furniture:/a typical self-supporting frame" in the upper left, and the name "Kukryniksy" in the lower left.
Box 13-G-11
Силен со всех сторон (Strong from all sides)
, undated, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a man in an overcoat wearing earplugs with buttons sewn over his eyes. His mouth is sewn shut with the words "mute thing."
With the verse "Check for vigilance and hearing/he is absolutely blind and deaf/He has one position on everything/They say 'a side is our business'" in the upper left and the name "Kukryniksy" in the lower left.
Box 13-G-11
Хапуга и его услуга (A grabber and his service)
, ca. 1950-1970
, 1 poster
(26" x 18¾")
Depicts a man sitting in a chair in front of a board that reads "Allow" and "Forbid" at the top and bottom. His arms are configured as a lever, such that if money is placed in one hand, the other will slide to the "Allow" portion of the board."
With the verse "If you hand a bribe to the grabber/everything will be 'yes,'/everything will go smoothly./If there is no bribe/everything will be 'no,'/do not go into the office." in the upper right and the name "Kukryniksy" in the lower left.
Box 13-G-11
Cover for the Kukryniksy posters Zarubka na pamiat' (Memento for Memory)
(Can be used as s poster)