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Alexander Mikhailovich Kurilovich’s "We Reject Baptism, We Do Not Have a Slave Fate" (1980s) exemplifies Soviet anti-religious propaganda during the period of intensified state atheism campaigns under Andropov’s leadership. This preparatory oil sketch, produced for Agitplakat Dona, reflects the Soviet state's effort to reinforce its ideological stance against religious practices. Its survival is particularly significant, as preparatory sketches were typically destroyed post-production, making this piece a rare artefact in Soviet propaganda design history.
The composition uses bold symbolism within a vertical format. A large, ominous figure of an Orthodox priest, rendered in light grey, looms over the simplified silhouette of a boy, cross raised above his head. The priest’s raised fist and assertive stance establish a strong visual hierarchy, casting the boy below as a victim of religious control. This arrangement powerfully communicates the state’s view of religious authority as oppressive, with a minimalist approach that heightens the propaganda’s clarity and impact.
The work displays technical restraint with its limited palette of blacks, whites, and greys. The oil-on-card medium allows for nuanced tonal shifts while preserving the stark contrasts essential for poster reproduction. This technique continues the Soviet tradition of high-contrast imagery to achieve maximum visual impact, and the painterly details of this sketch highlight the artist's formal training and skill.
Alexander Mikhailovich Kurilovich (1928-2007) was a prominent Soviet propaganda artist, leading Agitplakat Dona and a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. Trained at the Rostov Art College and Kharkov Art Institute, he specialised in political and anti-religious posters. His work is preserved in notable collections, including the Azov Historical Museum-Reserve and Volgodonsk Ecological and Historical Museum.
