"Women Belong in the Laboratory" (1980s) by Samuel Isaakovich Zisman represents a significant intersection of Soviet gender equality and scientific advancement propaganda during the late Soviet period. Created as a preparatory sketch for Agitplakat Dona, this work exemplifies the Soviet Union's continued promotion of women in STEM fields, building upon a decades-long tradition of encouraging female participation in scientific research.
The composition centers on a confident female scientist in blue overalls, arms raised triumphantly amidst laboratory equipment and computer punch card motifs. Zisman ingeniously uses dual visual metaphors: the punch card’s dotted pattern forms both a data stream and the shape of a beaker, merging scientific and computational symbols to underscore the Soviet emphasis on laboratory sciences and the rise of computer technology. The woman stands within a stylized lab environment, reinforcing this message.
Zisman’s color palette—pink, golden yellow, bright blue, and white—demonstrates his mastery of propaganda aesthetics. By moving away from traditional industrial colors toward warmer, more approachable tones, he celebrates scientific achievement while maintaining strong visual impact. The sketch’s loose, confident brushwork reveals Zisman’s design process, adding immediacy and energy to the piece. The simplified forms and bold colors reflect influences from constructivist design and 1980s graphic trends.
Samuel Isaakovich Zisman (1920-1986), a graduate of the M.B. Grekov Rostov Art School, established himself as a significant figure in Soviet propaganda art through his work at Agitplakat Don. His career, beginning with his first exhibitions in 1951, spanned multiple decades and addressed various themes in Soviet society, from industrial development to social criticism. His works are now preserved in numerous Russian institutions, including the Russian State Library and the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia.
