Some Perspectives on the Representation of Industrial Disputes Under the Shadow of Repression in European Art (1870–1914)

In this chapter a general overview is being presented on the representation of industrial disputes under the shadow of repression in Western art between 1870 and 1914. The focus is on representation in painting, engraving and sculpture. The analysis is iconological. Since industrial disputes relate to a process, a selected body of works of art will be analyzed according to the various stages in the development of the dispute, rather than on the basis of a chronological or a stylistic criterion. This contribution demonstrates that the choice of the stage which is represented, is key to the identification of the intrinsic meaning of the work of art. This chapter also examines these works from a gender perspective and seeks to understands the reception of these works of art as well as the commitment of the artists.