The article is devoted to the activities of the outstanding graphic artist V.M. Konashevich as a professor at the printing department of the Leningrad VKhUTEIN. The first stage of the master›s work within the walls of the Academy of Arts is considered directly. The article uses materials from the Scientific Archive of the Russian Academy of Arts. For the first time, the text of the curriculum for the department of book graphics was published (1924). For young professionals, participation in joint exhibitions, constant communication with an out-standing master who had a fine artistic taste, deep artistic erudition and invariable goodwill, the years of stay within the walls of the Academy were a great creative and life school.