740 Zeichnung, angewandte Kunst
In this essay, I explore the visual representation of that backwardness. For revolutionaries of all stripes, a core value in the revolution was overcoming Russia’s backwardness. In Russian it literally meant “lagging behind” [otstalost], but it had a wide compass to include illiteracy, superstition, drunkenness, syphilis, lack of culture, and lack of political engagement. I ask how early Soviet artists conveyed this backwardness – especially as synonymous not only with ignorance, but also with “darkness” and a lack of revolutionary consciousness. How did they compose posters for the masses in those early years of Soviet power, especially during the extensive civil and national wars of 1917-1921? How and why was gender such an important part of that visual imagery?
My analysis of ambivalent representations of gender and sexuality in children’s book illustrations centers on publications for middle-class German readers between 1776 and 1845 – a somewhat overlooked yet foundational milieu of modern children’s literature. I have found that these images at times invoke hegemonic ideas about gender while at others deviate from those norms – occasionally even within the same text. Materials created explicitly for children and youth offer special insight into ideologies such as those that structure gender and sexuality. This is true both because they can be more heavy-handed in their ideological messages – with a mind toward what is appropriate for the child viewer – but also because they remind us of the limits of didacticism when we consider the young reader’s/viewer’s unpredictable response. Thus, ambiguity is itself a characteristic of the gendered values presented in children’s books. At various historical moments, children’s illustrations upheld expectations of adult visual culture while breaking or sidestepping others.
At the beginning of the 20th century population growth, urbanisation and housing shortage were challenges throughout Europe. Consequently, epidemics and even pandemics were common. However, during the same era, significant advances in medicine occurred, leading in more effective vaccines, antibiotics, and chemicals against vermin. Moreover, healthy lifestyle was promoted via campaigns, including educational posters. Simultaneously, the concept of the new, modern citizen evolved. In our research project, we analyse and compare Finnish, German and Soviet posters educating citizens in improving their everyday habits, living environments and, in the end, their health. Our aim is to find out, what were the methods and means of the visual health education of the 20th century, and what kind of ideals were pictured in health promotion posters.
