Do not talk! (Vatolina N., Denisov N.) Soviet Posters (1917-1941)

This poster, titled Dont Chat! (Не болтай!), is a stark and powerful piece of Soviet propaganda from 1941. It features a close-up of a womans face, her expression intense and serious. She wears a red headscarf, a common symbol of Soviet women, and her finger is pressed to her lips in a gesture of silence. The style is graphic and dramatic, with bold lines and a limited color palette of red, brown, and yellow.
The text at the top, which translates to Be on guard, in such days walls have ears. Not far from idle talk and gossip is treason, reinforces the visual message. The subtext is clear and urgent: in times of national crisis, such as the war that had recently begun in 1941, loose talk and gossip can have dangerous consequences, potentially leading to treason or aiding the enemy. The poster aims to instill a sense of vigilance and caution in the population, urging them to be mindful of what they say and to whom they say it, implying that surveillance is widespread and that careless words can be exploited by enemies. The womans severe gaze and the imperative Dont Chat! serve as a direct warning against indiscretion.