"Women of the commune 1871 poster" [NMLH.2023.20]

Catalogue Number
NMLH.2023.20

Object Name
Poster

Title
Women of the commune 1871

Date
1972-1982

Description
The Poster Collective was a collective formed in 1971 at the Slade School of Art,  a group formed to initially produce posters in response to the miners strike and on the wars in both Vietnam and Ireland. It was formed on the basis of developing a coherent visual style, which addressed the political issues of the time. This included the armed struggles against colonialism in Africa, the struggle of women for equal rights and the continuing struggle against racism. The collective was active in the 70's and 80's, producing posters on a wide range of issues, including for educational purposes. The group was not-for-profit and used a variety of hand-printing techniques to create their posters.It is a black red and white poster with some Parisian women in the centre holding weapons or waving their fists in defiance. The poster is also printed in many fonts. ‘We have petrol, and we have hatchets and strong hearts, and are as capable of bearing fatigue as they, we will man the barricades
and show them that. we will no longer be trodden down… Such as still wish to fight may do so, dife by side with us. Women of Paris, to the front!’,’Women and teenage children fought in the Paris Commune side by side with the men. It will be no different in the coming battles for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie… They will take up arms as they did in 1971. Lenin.’,’The women broke from their traditional role and organised meetings to fight for politicial rights. Their demands were for free and comprehensive education for children of both sexes, equal pay and equal rights in the factory co-operatives, industrial schools for girls, women’s workshops and day nurseries.’