Anti-Corruption, Soviet Propaganda

This Soviet anti-corruption propaganda poster, created by artist A. Fomin with verses by M. Vladimova, dates to approximately the late Brezhnev or early perestroika period. The work exemplifies the genre of Soviet social discipline posters that sought to combat endemic corruption through public shaming and moral exhortation. The central figure employs a sophisticated visual metaphor: the corrupt individual rendered as a black silhouette containing within its distended belly the material rewards of embezzlement, specifically a dacha (country house), automobile, and associated luxury goods. The spider web motif references both entrapment and the web of illicit connections that enabled such crimes. The 'ГОС. КАССА' (State Cash Register) toward which the figure reaches represents the state coffers that were the target of embezzlers and economic criminals. The poster's text, 'Хапугам-ворюгам, рвачам-левакам, всей силой закона дадим по рукам!' employs colloquial and pejorative terminology: 'khapugi' (grabbers), 'voryugi' (thieves), 'rvachi' (profiteers), and 'levaki' (moonlighters or those engaged in unauthorized side work). This linguistic register was calculated to resonate with working-class audiences while marking such activities as socially unacceptable. Size: 17.25" x 10.5" Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear, fading and toning. Repaired border tear. General border wear. Please use the photo zoom feature to get a better understanding of overall condition. *Additional photos available upon request.