A Battle at the Austrian Border. S. Mukharskii, 1915-1916. Lubok, World War I.

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This print showing a battle near the village Gopka at the Austrian border is from the collection of World War I lubok posters held at the British Library. The caption explains, in the words of a report from Odessa: "Our troops reached Gopka on August 13 at night; an intense firing of weapons began. A fierce battle began before dawn and lasted for 18 hours. The battle ended with the defeat of the Austrians, who abandoned many guns. The number of dead and wounded Austrians is 2,000, with 4,000 taken prisoner. The Austrians are terribly afraid of and deliberately avoid bayonet fights. When faced with a bayonet attack, they scream in broken Russian, 'Ne Koly (Do not stab)'." Lubok is a Russian word for popular prints created from woodcuts, engravings, etchings, or later, by using lithography. The prints were often characterized by simple, colorful graphics depicting a narrative, and could also include text. Lubok gained popularity in Russia beginning in the late 17th century. The prints, which often depicted narratives from a historical event, literature, or a religious tale, were used to make such stories accessible to illiterate people.

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Size: 5660px × 4631px
Location: Europe
Photo credit: © Bill Waterson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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