Manifestation. October 17, 1905 Ilya Repin (1844-1930)

The painting depicts a jubilant crowd in a city square, their faces turned upwards, mouths open in song or shouts of exultation. A man in a dark suit is being carried aloft by the crowd, his arms outstretched and one hand raised with chains broken and dangling. He appears to be a figure of liberation or a victory symbol.
In the upper left corner of the painting, a tattered banner is visible bearing the inscription 1905 17 ТАВР. The 17 likely refers to October 17, 1905, a significant date in Russian history. The banner, along with the celebratory atmosphere, strongly suggests the painting is referencing the October Revolution of 1905, a period of political upheaval in Russia.
The subtext of the painting is one of triumph and liberation. The broken chains symbolize the end of oppression or the granting of newfound freedoms, as heralded by the October Manifesto. The enthusiastic faces and the raising of the central figure suggest a moment of collective joy and victory for the people. The presence of uniforms among the crowd might indicate participation or support from various segments of society, including potentially those in authority who were aligned with the revolutionary spirit of the time. The overall impression is one of a popular uprising culminating in a moment of shared celebration and hope for a new era.