1
Compositionally, Poret opts for unusual high angles (see also
p. 9), displaying here the workers’ mass massacre from a peculiar perspective constructed from a bird’s eye view (such a vantage point is not realistically possible even from a neighbouring tower since the artist’s presumed disposition is directly above the tram rails). In effect, such artificial conventions provide clever illusions and a sense of historical perspective when reflecting on the events almost a decade and a half old.
2
A crucified, Christ-like position in of one of the dispersed strikers, singled out in a blue blot, lying in the left bottom corner of the picture
3
Junkers and Cossacks dispersed the demonstration. They shot at the workers and soldiers. Many Bolsheviks were arrested.
Lenin had to go into hiding once again. He lived in a hut, far from the city, and from there he wrote letters to the workers:
“Prepare for an uprising!”
(Translation by Andrew Tureski, Dalhousie University)