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Comemorações doDia Internacional da Mulher trabalhadora

Poster
ca. 1975 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Pro-Communist Vasco Gonçalves was named prime minister of Portugal in 1974 following the Movimento das Forças Armadas (Movement of the Armed Forces), the revolution which overthrew Marcello Caetano's dictatorship. Caetano's stringent repression in Portugal's colonies met with increasing dissent from soldiers and civilians alike. (The whole of its African empire was freed in 1975. By 1976, Portugal had withdrawn from its Asian territories as well).

The new Gonçalves government introduced many radical Communist policies, while the rival Socialist Party fought against such radicalism. Despite the mounting political tension, the first free elections were held, based on universal suffrage, on 25 April 1975. Public disaffection with the leftist dictatorship became widespread. After a campaign of anti-Communist demonstrations and growing pressure from the military to resolve the crisis, Gonçalves was eventually ousted.

This poster likely dates to this brief period of the Gonçalves rule, wherein all members of Portuguese society, women included, were expected to contribute along Communist principles. This would explain the image of Chinese women because visual propaganda circulated widely between Communist states.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleComemorações doDia Internacional da Mulher trabalhadora (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithograph
Brief description
"Comemorações do Dia Internacional da Mulher trabalhadora de 2 a 8 de Março - EXPOSIÇÃO" Poster commemorating International Women Workers' Day, 2-8 May. Portugal.
Physical description
Red background. Yellow text above and below image of Chinese women reading.
Marks and inscriptions
  • red star symbol (lower left)
  • "Comemorações do Dia Internacional da Mulher trabalhadora de 2 a 8 de Março - EXPOSIÇÃO"
  • na escola Antonio Arroio (yellow on red)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Pro-Communist Vasco Gonçalves was named prime minister of Portugal in 1974 following the Movimento das Forças Armadas (Movement of the Armed Forces), the revolution which overthrew Marcello Caetano's dictatorship. Caetano's stringent repression in Portugal's colonies met with increasing dissent from soldiers and civilians alike. (The whole of its African empire was freed in 1975. By 1976, Portugal had withdrawn from its Asian territories as well).

The new Gonçalves government introduced many radical Communist policies, while the rival Socialist Party fought against such radicalism. Despite the mounting political tension, the first free elections were held, based on universal suffrage, on 25 April 1975. Public disaffection with the leftist dictatorship became widespread. After a campaign of anti-Communist demonstrations and growing pressure from the military to resolve the crisis, Gonçalves was eventually ousted.

This poster likely dates to this brief period of the Gonçalves rule, wherein all members of Portuguese society, women included, were expected to contribute along Communist principles. This would explain the image of Chinese women because visual propaganda circulated widely between Communist states.
Other number
LS.1490 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.367-2004

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Record createdAugust 27, 2004
Record URL
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