"Dad? No Conscience, No Honour - His Trail is Heartless" (1989) by Elena Mikhailovna Kurmanaevskaya confronts the issue of paternal abandonment and familial responsibility. Created at the cusp of the Soviet Union's dissolution, these themes gained particular resonance during the social upheavals of the late 1980s. The work exists in two forms: an original oil-on-card sketch and the final silkscreen poster. This complete set is exceptionally rare, as Soviet protocols typically mandated the destruction of preliminary sketches after approval.
The composition centres on a stylised teddy bear being crushed by a beige boot, with a heart-shaped tread pattern revealing children's names. White directional arrows point to names like "Lena," "Galya," and "Natasha," marking multiple abandoned children. The stark Cyrillic text "Dad?" at the top poses a direct question, while the subtitle "No Conscience, No Honour - His Trail is Heartless" emphasizes the devastating impact of paternal abandonment. The black background heightens the dramatic effect of the beige bear and red accents.
The work combines Soviet constructivist design with contemporary graphic elements. Using just red, black, beige, and white, the poster achieves strong visual impact while working within typical Soviet printing limitations. Kurmanaevskaya's expertise in silkscreen printing shows in the precise colour alignment and clean lines. The design uses simple shapes and clear typography to ensure the message reaches a wide audience.
Elena Mikhailovna Kurmanaevskaya, born in 1947 in Rostov-on-Don, emerged as a significant figure in late Soviet graphic design through her work with state publishing houses including Agitplakat Don. Her artistic education at both the M.B. Grekov Rostov Art School and the prestigious V.I. Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute provided technical foundations for her distinctive style. As a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and Professor at the South Russian Institute of Humanities, she gained recognition through over 170 international exhibitions and received the title of Honoured Artist of Russia in 2008.
