Vice – out the door! 1959

This Soviet propaganda poster carries the slogan “Порок – за порог!” (“Vice – out the door!”) and was created in 1959 by artist V. Govorkov. It reflects the campaign against social ills in the Khrushchev era, when the government promoted discipline, sobriety, and hard work as the foundations of socialist society. The poster shows a smiling worker in blue overalls sweeping away vices symbolized as grotesque caricatures: a bottle marked drunkenness, laziness (a lounging pillow), lies, poor workmanship (“Брак”), and parasitism (“Тунеядство”). Each vice is personified to look foolish and undesirable, reinforcing the moral message. The bold red and black text declares the Soviet determination to break with the remnants of the past and build a disciplined, productive future. Bright colors and dynamic composition make the message clear and memorable.