The Attack

Painted by Eetu Isto in 1899, The Attack is a painting that gained a huge reputation for its political resistance during the Russification of Finland (1899–1905 and 1908–1917). In the painting, the maiden bearing the coat of arms of Finland on her belt defends herself against the attacking two-headed eagle of Russia, who tries to steal a law book from her, just like Russia threatened Finland’s autonomy and law during the years of oppression.

Inspired by the February Manifesto, Eetu Isto started planning and sketching the subject of his most famous work while studying in Germany but painted the final version in Helsinki in late 1899. He understood the explosiveness of the subject in the situation at the time, and the work was transported to Sweden for fear of confiscation.

Completed in the atmosphere following the February Manifesto, the work became a symbol of constitutional thinking and the Finnish patriotic spirit during the years of oppression. Despite a ban, copies of the painting spread throughout the country, and a network of agents distributed them to Finns living in faraway places, including Sweden, the US and Hungary.

H30058