Tallinn Trip – Estonian History Museum (At the New Market on 16 October 1905 by Aleksander Peek)

Back to artworks, this one is in the Estonian History Museum.

Painted by Aleksander Peek in 1966, this painting depicts the events of 16 October 1905 (or what is now 29 October due to changes in the calendar) in Tallinn (then called Reval) when a general strike had spread due to widespread dissatisfaction with the authorities. The strike had become violent and a number of those not taking part had their houses looted and burnt by a mob, who then went to the Town Hall to demand political liberties and large amounts of cash. The Mayor, who didn’t have much choice here, gave them the money but couldn’t do much about the liberties that the mob demanded. Shops were plundered and the mob got drunk and then started singing revolutionary songs as anger against the Russians continued. This wasn’t unique to Estonia either, there were uprisings across the Russian Empire which was starting to crumble.

The Governor said that political liberties might be given, but demanded that the mob break up. They refused and thousands of people went to New Market Square to demand revolution, but Russian army Captain Nikolai Mironov said that the troops would fire on them if they didn’t disperse. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the Russian army here on the ground, they tried what they could to get people to disperse as they didn’t much want to shoot anyone, much as the senior officers seemed unconcerned by the violence that was to follow. The crowds that had now reached 10,000 people didn’t disperse so the Russian army were ordered to fire on them, killing 94 and injuring over 200 more. Order was restored for that evening, but the long-term impact was more serious for the Russian Government. History is told by the victors and all that, because this moment has gone into history as one of the defining moments of Estonian independence and it led to Tsar Nicholas II introducing legislation to allow for political parties to form in Estonia. Every single party that was created effectively wanted the end to Russification and wanted national self-determination, but only weeks after political parties were allowed the people of Tallinn found themselves living under martial law.

It’s a dark painting which is deliberately grim, the soldiers are given no humanity by having their backs shown, a terrifying moment. The lampposts light up those fleeing for their lives and dissolving into the surrounding chaos.  chapter in their history.