Культурная Еъропа [Cultural Europe]
- Title:
- Культурная Еъропа [Cultural Europe]
- Alternate Title:
- [Cultural Europe]
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Date:
- 1906
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2494.02
- File Name:
- PJM_2494_02.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1900 - 1919
- Subject:
- Politics & Government
Satirical
Unusual Graphics/Text - Measurement:
- 18 diameter on page 32 x 23 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This map appeared in one of the satirical political journals that burst onto the scene in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and throughout the Russian Empire during the "First Russian Revolution" of 1905-07.
On Sunday, January 9, 1905 ("Bloody Sunday"), Russian troops fired on a large, peaceful demonstration of workers in St. Petersburg attempting to take a petition to the Czar; some 200 were killed and another 800 wounded. This event galvanized workers already restive for democratic reforms, resulting in a continuing series of demonstrations, strikes, mutinies and further violence over the spring and summer. Growing awareness of the humiliation and cost of Russia's losses in the Russo-Japanese War added fuel to the fire, and a "Great October General Strike" spread across the Empire. Levitt & Minin 2013, 17-18.
In response, Czar Nicholas issued an "October Manifesto" establishing a Russian Parliament and declaring a set of basic Russian civil liberties - including freedom of the press. At that point, it was possible for the first time to publish without prior approval by government censors. With hope for real democratic reform in the air, new satirical political journals began to flood the Empire. Although press freedom was again constricted beginning in the summer of 1906, during this period more than 400 such journals were published with "a phenomenal distribution estimated at close to thirty million copies." Ibid. 18-19; Minin 2011, 218.
"Richly illustrated, the [Russian satirical] journals represent a collaboration of some of the best artists, writers, journalists, political writers and illustrators of the time." Although "a large percentage" of the journals "were officially and almost immediately banned upon their release," new ones were created, and the boom continued. These publications "contain thousands of clever and compelling caricatures, political cartoons and works of art, literature, and political and social commentary," along with "beautiful examples of pioneering graphic and typographical art which continue to fascinate students of Russian history and culture." They "cut a fateful swath through historic Russian political imagery." And the publishers were not shy about it: "the more lurid was the cover, and the more red color it contained, the faster would be the sale." Levitt & Minin 20-25; Brooks 2013, 25, 31.
The collection includes two maps from one issue of these innovative magazines, issue 2 of "Vodolaz" (Diver), published in Saint Petersburg in 1906. While there were some royalist and other right-wing satirical journals during this period, Vodolaz was one of the prevalent leftist publications, evidenced by its lavish use of the color red in the illustrations and cover. Vodolaz, like many of these publications, had a short life; it appears that only five issues were produced. Vodolaz, like many of these publications, had a short life; it appears that only five issues were produced.
The first map, "Geography" (ID #2494.01) presents the world as a donkey. The donkey's ears are Africa, its head is the Sahara Desert, the neck is Asia, and the forequarters South America. Australia is its back, and Europe the rear end. North America is the belly and right leg. This illustration may be simply a satirical statement that the world is a donkey: stupid (with sand in its head) and stubborn. And the absence of Russia on this map may suggest that Russia - revolutionary Russia, to be sure - is the only part of the world that is not an ass. It is not clear why the head, South America and Australia are red, the color of the revolution; perhaps this reflects the practical need to provide at least some of the color demanded by the audience.
The second illustration, "Cultured Europe" (ID #2494.02) is a globe with the look of a harlot's face. Her right eye is the Atlantic Ocean with England below, and the other eye is Paris. The nose is Prussia/Germany with the city of Königsberg (present day Kaliningrad) on one side. Spain and Italy are on one cheek, and Austro-Hungary the other, all labeled "bad teeth," that is, teeth that give toothache. The only color on the globe, smeared red lipstick around the mouth, is in the shape of the Russian Empire. This may be a bold symbol of revolutionary Russia as a force for radical change in the rest of traditional, dignified, "Cultured" Europe. At the same time, it is likely that both of these maps were intended in part simply as humor, to entertain the readers.
Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University. - Source:
- Водолазъ [Vodolaz] No. 2, n.d., 1906. Saint Petersberg: Yu.V. Goldberg Publishing House.
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.