Anatoliy Alexandrovich Reshetov’s "Initiatives of Any Seedlings Are Crushed by Procrastinators, Like Rollers!" (1986) is a satirical critique of bureaucratic obstruction during the Perestroika era. Created at a time of political and social reform under Mikhail Gorbachev, the poster reflects the frustrations of a society seeking change while facing resistance from entrenched officials. This surviving oil sketch and its silkscreen counterpart, produced by Agitplakat Dona, are significant for offering insight into the Soviet poster design process, as preliminary works were typically destroyed after production. The title, drawn from a Russian idiom comparing obstructionism to a steamroller flattening growth, directly highlights how new ideas and initiatives were suppressed.
The composition features a dominant bureaucratic figure whose oversized glasses, grin, and angular features merge into a massive industrial roller. This roller crushes documents labelled “Project”, “Proposal”, and “Invention”, representing creativity and progress destroyed under administrative pressure. The horizontal lines in the background suggest mechanical force and immovable authority, while the crumpled papers at the base reinforce the destruction of forward-thinking ideas. The arrangement of visual elements makes the bureaucrat’s indifference and the consequences of his actions unmistakable.
Reshetov employs a limited colour palette of blue, black, and orange to achieve strong visual contrast. The bright orange of the bureaucrat’s face draws immediate focus, standing out against the dark roller and background. The flat, graphic quality and the combination of simplified shapes, bold lines, and text mirrors earlier propaganda posters, while the exaggerated features of the figure introduce a satirical edge.
Anatoliy Alexandrovich Reshetov (1957–2002) was a Russian artist, designer, and architect active in Rostov-on-Don. A member of the Union of Artists of Russia and the Union of Designers of Russia, Reshetov gained recognition for his posters addressing social and political issues. Works like "Initiatives of Any Seedlings Are Crushed by Procrastinators, Like Rollers!" were exhibited nationally and internationally, cementing his reputation for blending bold graphic design with sharp social commentary. Today, his works are held in major Russian collections, including the State Historical Museum in Moscow, the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Reserve, and the Museum of Nature and Man in Khanty-Mansiysk.
