Semen Borisovich Raev was a multi-faceted artist and a poster designer. Born in Moscow, Raev studied at the Moscow Regional Art Pedagogical School of Fine Arts of 1905 (a.k.a. Moscow Academic Art School) from 1949 to 1952. After graduation, he was professionally engaged in the field of sculpture, painting and the metallic arts. He also ventured into applied graphic design and in that field, he made his mark with the posters he created. From the early 1960s to the early 1990s, Raev designed posters for the publishing houses Zoria and Plakat (later, Panorama Publishers). The majority of his designs focused on international politics. A characteristic feature of Raev's work was his monochrome technique that was reminiscent of an engraver's strokes on a copper plate. Raev also worked with photocollage on various posters he designed. He also co-designed posters with the artist Evgenii Vladimirovich Abezgus.

Goskomizdat was formed in 1963 as the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for Publishing, Printing and Book Trade. While it managed the publishing, printing and book trade it also controlled the content and direction of publication in the USSR. Goskomizdat determined various degrees of political influence found within works and it prepared and consolidated long-term plans for releasing literature. For example, state publishers were obligated to present a thematic plan with a list of expected print-runs, pending titles and their expected publication dates, all to be approved by Goskomizdat.

Plakat (All-Union Poster) was created in 1974 in Moscow through the work of the Union of Artists and the Central Committee of the Communist Party. The chief of its poster department was Dmitry Akimovich Isaev. Plakat publishers existed until 1991 whereupon it was renamed Panorama publishers.