Russian Revolution, Women's Suffrage, and Impressionism

The Russian Revolution

In 1917, the first worker and peasant revolution in history took place, establishing the first Marxist government.

Russia Before the Revolution

In the early twentieth century, the Russian Empire was a state in contrast to much of the world. Although it maintained feudalism, there was a Tsar, or Emperor, who held absolute power.

Russian citizens had no individual rights.

The majority of the population were peasant farmers, whose lands were part of large estates owned by a small elite.

Only 10% of the population were industrial workers.

The 1917 Revolution

February 1917: Farmers, workers, and soldiers staged a revolution, leading to the abdication of Nicholas II. Russia transitioned into a democratic republic.

Provisional Government of the Republic

• Led by the bourgeoisie, it recognized the rights and freedoms of citizens.
• However, the new government did not meet the two main demands of peasants and workers: ending the war and poverty.

Most of the population supported the Soviets.

Soviets: Assemblies of delegates representing farmers, workers, and soldiers. They operated parallel to the interim government, with the people following their instructions and controlling public order.

Red Guard: Armed militias formed by the Soviets in the cities.

Bolshevik Party: Led by Lenin, it adhered to communist ideology.

Lenin encouraged peasants, soldiers, and workers to revolt against the Provisional Government, establishing the first communist government in history.

The Fight for Women's Suffrage

In 1918, the British government granted the vote to women over 30 years old. The struggle for women's suffrage had begun long before and continues today.

The First Steps

In the Old Regime society, women had a subordinate role to men.

Before marrying, a woman was subject to her father; after marriage, to her husband.

Equality between individuals, one of the goals of the Bourgeois Revolution, did not apply to women. The Rights of Man and of the Citizen only applied to men. Feminism was born here.

Feminism: Advocated for the fundamental right to vote.

It emerged during the French Revolution.

In 1791, Olympe de Gouges published the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen."

Throughout the nineteenth century, the fight continued, especially in the USA and the UK.

Thus arose the Suffragette movement, a part of the feminist movement that focused its activities on achieving the right to vote.

Suffragism

In 1866, a liberal thinker introduced a proposal in the English Parliament to legalize the female vote, but it was rejected.

In 1867, the "National Society for Women's Suffrage" was formed, the first clear suffrage organization. They organized rallies, demonstrations, and proposed laws for women's rights.

Some women, facing political negativity, resorted to burning shops, sabotage, and even attacks on the homes of some politicians who voted against women's suffrage.

Impressionism and the Avant-Garde

In 1870, an artistic current called Impressionism emerged. It was one of the first art movements that profoundly renewed art between 1870 and 1914.

Characteristics

Impressionists were not interested in reproducing reality objectively. They intended to capture the elusive light of a moment, such as sunrise. They often painted landscapes with water.

They painted outdoors without specific drawings, focusing on colors and reflections. Notable Impressionists include Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Post-Impressionism

The picture is clearer and more constant than in Impressionism. A prominent Post-Impressionist is Vincent van Gogh.

The twentieth century saw the beginning of the artistic avant-garde, a series of painting movements that happened quickly, with a desire to break away from traditional art.

Fauvism: The first avant-garde movement. A notable Fauvist is Henri Matisse.

Expressionism: Another artistic avant-garde movement. A notable Expressionist is Edvard Munch.

Cubism: Showed the same object from multiple points of view, often using the technique of collage. Notable Cubists include Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.