Defiance Collection

Winston Churchill making his famous V for Victory sign, 1942. A typical gesture of defiance from Britains wartime Prime Minister. (Colorised black and white print)

The Cossacks Reply to the Sultan (Zaporozhtsy), c1890, (1939). Creator: Il ya Repin
The Cossacks Reply to the Sultan (Zaporozhtsy), c1890, (1939). Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of Turkey, also known as Cossacks of Saporog Are Drafting a Manifesto

The Last Man, Hans Bohrdt - Propaganda - German navy officer
In 1915 Hans Bohrdt created his most famous illustration which is called " The Last Man". The image shows a German navy officer holding up a German flag as his ship sinks because he would

Medieval knight on horseback
Knight on horseback shaking his fist defiantly, England. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century John Gilbert painting

First English Civil War: Siege of Lathom House, 1644
Royalist stronghold Lathom House in Lancashire defies Parlimentarian pressure and raises the royal standard. The ensuing siege lasted three months, but was eventually lifted

Trades union membership certificate
A trades union membership certificate for the United Operative Plumbers Association of Great Britain and Ireland, with Defence and Defiance as their motto

Londoners sheltering from a German air raid on a platform in Piccadilly Underground Station during the Blitz
6015286 Londoners sheltering from a German air raid on a platform in Piccadilly Underground Station during the Blitz, World War II, September 1940 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Reprisal! by H M Bateman - humorous illustration of what can happen if a woman decides to wear trousers. In this scene the reprisal for the wife wearing trousers is that her husband has taken to

WWI - The Lion Roused - British Propaganda postcard full of strength, defiance and patriotism. The confidence evident in 1914... Date: 1914

Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar, 1782 (c1783). General Sir George Eliott is on horseback pointing to the battle between the British and the Spanish land and sea forces

Agnes, Countess of Dunbar (1312?-1369), known as Black Agnes, 1338 (early 20th century). She is seen on the battlements at the defence of Dunbar Castle in 1337-1338 when her husband

Detail of the Zaporozhets writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan, 1880-1890, (1965). Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of Turkey

Caricature of the English dramatist James Albery -- Defiance. circa 1870s

Reckless defiance. Illustration shows a diminutive soldier labeled France standing next to a large Russian bear gesturing with a sword toward John Bull standing opposite while a battle rages in

John Hancock's defiance, 1776
1574871 John Hancock's defiance, 1776; (add.info.: John Hancock's defiance on July 4th 1776. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first)

Group of Carnations from Thornton's "Temple of Flora"
5856491 Group of Carnations from Thornton's "Temple of Flora"; (add.info.: Group of Carnations, including Palmer's Defiance, Davey's Defiance, Palmer's Duchess of Dorset)

The Zeppelin bombardment of Antwerp, Belgium, August 1914, in defiance of the Hague Convention (litho)
3252884 The Zeppelin bombardment of Antwerp, Belgium, August 1914, in defiance of the Hague Convention (litho); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Zeppelin bombardment of Antwerp, Belgium)

In defiance of the law: Father and child begging , Britain c1840. Begging was against the law
527831 In defiance of the law: Father and child begging , Britain c1840. Begging was against the law.; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Sketches from Mexico: Banuelos José de Jesús, the famous Mexican brigand chief, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Sketches from Mexico: Banuelos Jose de Jesus, the famous Mexican brigand chief, 1864. Engraving from a sketch by M. Beauce, '...a portrait of Banuelos Jose de Jesus

Portrait of a Boy, 1747. Creator: Jean-Baptiste Perronneau
Portrait of a Boy, 1747

Portrait of the artist Astrid Setterwall Ångström (1895-1982), 1914. Creator: Gerda Roosval-Kallstenius
Portrait of the artist Astrid Setterwall...ngstrom (1895-1982), 1914

Hugo Birger, the Artist, as a Mercenary, 1879. Creator: Ernst Josephson
Hugo Birger, the Artist, as a Mercenary, 1879

Here is the Pleasure, Sirs, Here is the Pleasure, c1860. Creator: Edouard de Beaumont
Here is the Pleasure, Sirs, Here is the Pleasure, c1860. Beaumont reveals the antagonism among women of different social classes and generations

"Don't give up that ship!", c1840. Creator: Alfred Jacob Miller
"Don't give up that ship!", c1840. Captain James Lawrence (1781-1813) was mortally wounded on May 6, 1813, during an engagement in the War of 1812 between his ship

The Wrestler Onogawa Kisaburo Blowing Smoke at a One-Eyed Monster, 1865. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
The Wrestler Onogawa Kisaburo Blowing Smoke at a One-Eyed Monster, 1865. From One Hundred Ghost Tales from China and Japan

The Death of Officer Murata, 1877. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
The Death of Officer Murata, 1877. From Oral Account of the Events at Kagoshima

Ariharano Tokihira and Matsuo Maru, 19th century. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Ariharano Tokihira and Matsuo Maru, 19th century

Ikina, 1885. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Ikina, 1885. Series: An Educational Account of Self-Made Men

Adam and Eve, c1500. Creator: Unknown
Adam and Eve, unknown date, c1500

Algerian, 1871-1873. Creator: Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
Algerian, 1871-1873

O'Connor, J.C. Mrs. portrait photograph, 1916. Creator: Arnold Genthe
O'Connor, J.C. Mrs. portrait photograph, 1916

Cisco, John Jay, Mrs. portrait photograph, 1915 June 22. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Cisco, John Jay, Mrs. portrait photograph, 1915 June 22

Morgan, D.P. Jr. Mrs. portrait photograph, 1930 Mar. or Apr. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Morgan, D.P. Jr. Mrs. portrait photograph, 1930 Mar. or Apr

Waite, W. Miss, portrait photograph, 1915. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Waite, W. Miss, portrait photograph, 1915

'Free Education--A Difficult Problem, drawn from life, 1891. Creator: Unknown
'Free Education--A Difficult Problem, drawn from life, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

Altman, Ruth, Miss, portrait photograph, 1928 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Altman, Ruth, Miss, portrait photograph, 1928

'Courage Civique; 20 aout 1914. Creator: Unknown
'Courage Civique; 20 aout 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume I" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

'Le Roi-Soldat; Albert I. Roi des Belges, 1914. Creator: J Simont
'Le Roi-Soldat; Albert I. Roi des Belges, 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume I" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

Gilmore, Inez Haynes, Mrs. portrait photograph, 1913. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Gilmore, Inez Haynes, Mrs. portrait photograph, 1913

'Courage Civique; La salle de l'Independence, a l'Hotel de Ville de Bruxelles, 1914. Creator: Unknown
'Courage Civique; La salle de l'Independence, a l'Hotel de Ville de Bruxelles, 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume I" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

'Albert 1er, Roi des Belges, 1914. Creator: Unknown
'Albert 1er, Roi des Belges, 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919: Volume I". [L'Illustration, Paris, 1926]

'Courage Civique; M Adolphe Max, Bourgmestre de Bruxelles, 1914. Creator: Unknown
'Courage Civique; M Adolphe Max, Bourgmestre de Bruxelles, 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume I" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

'L'Heroique Defense de Troyon, 1914. Creator: Unknown
'L'Heroique Defense de Troyon, 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919: Volume I". [L'Illustration, Paris, 1926]

Gardner, G. Miss, portrait photograph, 1916. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Gardner, G. Miss, portrait photograph, 1916

A Little Ajax for a Cent Defying the Lightning, from Puck, published December 10, 1890. Creator: Charles Jay Taylor
A Little Ajax for a Cent Defying the Lightning, from Puck, published December 10, 1890

Back View of Seated Figure, Lifting Left Arm, n.d. Creator: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
Back View of Seated Figure, Lifting Left Arm, n.d

Per and Lotso Vannar's sons, Sjokksjokk's Sami village, Jokkmokk's son, 1868. Creator: Lotten von Duben
Per and Lotso Vannar's sons, Sjokksjokk's Sami village, Jokkmokk's son, 1868. From Lotten von Duben's photo album with motifs from the ethnological expedition to Lapland led by her

Portrait of Elsa Nilsdotter Länta, 35 years old, Sirka's Sami village, 1868. Creator: Lotten von Duben
Portrait of Elsa Nilsdotter Lanta, 35 years old, Sirka's Sami village, 1868. From Lotten von Duben's photo album with motifs from the ethnological expedition to Lapland led by her husband

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In the face of adversity, defiance emerges as a powerful force that transcends time and borders. From Winston Churchill's iconic V for Victory sign during World War II to the resolute Cossacks' reply to the Sultan in 1890, acts have shaped history and inspired generations. One such act is captured in Il ya Repin's masterpiece "The Cossacks Reply to the Sultan. " With unwavering determination, these warriors stand tall against oppression, refusing to bow down. Their defiant spirit echoes through centuries, reminding us of the indomitable human will. Similarly, Hans Bohrdt's propaganda artwork "The Last Man" portrays a German navy officer standing firm amidst chaos. In his eyes burns an unyielding resolve that defies defeat and embraces sacrifice for a cause greater than himself. Defiance takes various forms throughout history - from trade union membership certificates symbolizing workers' solidarity against exploitation to medieval knights on horseback defending their honor with every fiber of their being. Each act represents a refusal to surrender one's principles or freedom without a fight. "The Death of General Gordon" depicts another momentous instance where defiance prevails. In Khartoum, 1885, General Gordon valiantly defends his position until his last breath against overwhelming odds. His heroic resistance showcases how even in defeat, courage can inspire others towards future victories. During the First English Civil War at Lathom House in 1644, besieged defenders exemplify resilience amid despair. Surrounded by enemy forces yet undeterred by their dire circumstances, they embody an unwavering spirit that refuses submission. Artistic depictions like H M Bateman's "Reprisal. " capture moments when individuals rise above injustice with audacity and wit. These acts serve as reminders that even humor can be wielded as a weapon against tyranny and oppression. Propaganda postcards like "The Lion Roused" from World War I reveal the power of collective defiance.