Rivoluzione Russa - 1917

📜 Description
Historical photograph dated 1917 depicting a Russian women’s battalion in formation during the events of the October Revolution. The image shows a compact group of women in military uniform, flanked by male figures in military and civilian attire, arranged frontally within an urban setting. The organized deployment and disciplined posture of the group suggest an official context, consistent with the formation of women’s battalions established in the final months of the Russian Provisional Government.

The caption on the verso, now largely faded, together with the handwritten note “Russia war” and editorial stamps, firmly associates the photograph with international press distribution, likely through the Daily Mirror Photograph service. The image documents a specific moment in the mobilization of women within the broader political and military crisis of Russia in 1917, when female participation in the war assumed both practical and symbolic significance.

This original press photograph, classified as Type I PSA/DNA, represents a particularly significant documentary record of the Russian Revolution and the presence of armed female units within it. As a vintage silver gelatin print, it retains its original editorial function and stands as a visual testimony to one of the most decisive moments in early twentieth-century European history.

📚 Art Historical Note
In 1917, Russia underwent a profound political transformation, from the collapse of the Tsarist regime to the rise of revolutionary forces. The women’s battalions formed during this period represent one of the most notable episodes of female military mobilization in response to the crisis of the state and the war front.

Photographs circulated through the international press played a crucial role in shaping global perceptions of the Russian Revolution. This historical photograph combines journalistic relevance with strong iconographic value, documenting not only a political-military event but also a pivotal shift in the public and military role of women during a moment of exceptional historical upheaval.

🧾 Technical Details
Type: Original photograph / Type I
Author: Daily Mirror Photograph
Place: Russia
Date: 1917
Medium: Photographic paper
Technique: Silver gelatin print
Subject: Russian women’s battalion during the October Revolution / Russian Revolution
Certification: PSA/DNA Type I
Dimensions: 14.5 × 23 cm
Marks / inscriptions: editorial stamps on verso, partially legible caption, handwritten note “Russia war”

🔍 Condition Report
Good overall condition. Photographic surface shows signs of wear consistent with age and editorial use. A small tear is present along the right margin. The verso retains stamps and annotations, with a heavily faded caption, natural toning of the paper, and minor handling marks. Structurally stable and fully legible.