"Unanimity" (1959) by Alexey Glebovich Smirnov is a stark pen drawing that offers a potent critique of collective conformity during the Khrushchev Thaw period in Soviet history. The work demonstrates a remarkable economy of means - using only pen on paper to convey its powerful message about the tension between individual identity and enforced collective behavior.

The composition centers on three seated figures, each rendered in a highly stylized, elongated form. Their bodies are defined by confident, unbroken lines that create a sense of fluidity despite their rigid postures. Most striking is their identical positioning - each figure raises one hand in what appears to be a voting gesture, creating a visual rhythm that emphasizes their uniformity. The figures' faces are simplified to near-abstraction, with angular features that strip away any sense of individual personality, suggesting the erasure of personal identity under systemic pressure. Smirnov's masterful pen technique merges precision with expressiveness. The minimal use of internal detail directs focus to the essential forms and gestures, while the continuous, flowing lines create silhouettes that hover between solid presence and ethereal abstraction. The deliberate variation in line weight guides the viewer's eye through the composition, emphasizing key moments of intersection and movement.