A rare illustration painting maquette of the Russian Soviet satirical poster To be or not to be, designed by Yuri Trunev (1921-1986), Soviet graphic artist, member of the Fighting Pencil - a creative association of Leningrad artists who produced propaganda posters in the USSR. The Russian title text read as follows: To be or not to be? The poster maquette depicts a man against the backdrop of a winter landscape on a ruined farm with a cow's skull in his hands, asking the classic phrase - To be or not to be? Illustration painting maquette for poster by Yuri Trunev for The Fighting Pencil Group, with original Russian pencil marks on the backside. Paper, mixed media.