Glory to Labour! Glory To Science! These are our Minds, These are our Hands!

Semyon Borisovich Raev, 1970

Medium: Offset/paper
Dimensions /: 100 H x 67 W
Country: Russian SFSR
Condition: B | Fine - Minor signs of wear

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"Glory to Labour! Glory to Science! These are Our Minds, These are Our Hands!" (1970) by Semyon Borisovich Raev is a calculated response to the American moon landing of 1969. As the Soviet Union pivoted from manned missions to automated exploration, this artwork served to reframe this setback by positioning the Luna-16 unmanned mission as evidence of continued Soviet space dominance.

A mechanised red robot, representing the Luna-16 probe, dominates the foreground, its upraised arm holding a crescent moon. This central figure is rendered against the infinite blackness of space, while a vivid blue Earth provides both visual contrast and symbolic context. The restricted three-colour palette—red, black, and blue—exemplifies Soviet design principles, creating maximum visual impact through minimal means. Raev's masterful use of scale emphasises the technological achievement, with the robotic form appearing monumental against the celestial backdrop.

The work's conceptual strength lies in its transformation of an unmanned probe into an anthropomorphic heroic figure. This visual strategy cleverly bridges the gap between human and mechanical achievement, suggesting that Soviet technological prowess is an extension of worker capability rather than a replacement for it. The text reinforces this connection, explicitly linking labor, science, minds, and hands into a unified whole. By depicting the probe reaching for the moon while backed by Earth, the poster creates a powerful narrative of Soviet reach extending beyond terrestrial boundaries. The composition subtly suggests that unmanned missions represent not a compromise, but rather an evolution of Soviet space capability, positioning automated exploration as the next logical step in humanity's cosmic journey.

Semyon Borisovich Raev (1932-2001) trained at the Moscow Architectural and Art School (1949-1952) before becoming a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR and the Union of Artists of Russia. Throughout his career, he was awarded multiple VDNH medals: Bronze (1977, 1981), Silver (1980, 1985), and Gold (1983). His works is the collections of the Russian State Library and the State Museum of Political History of Russia.