Anarchist Image Gallery
This site is a gallery of historical anarchist images collected from a wide range of sources and organized into easily accessible galleries. Its purpose is to make these images easier to find, browse, and reference.
THIS SITE IS CURRENTLY STILL A WORK-IN-PROGRESS
This site is a gallery of historical anarchist images collected from a wide range of sources and organized into easily accessible galleries. Its purpose is to make these images easier to find, browse, and reference. We also maintain organize.crd.co, a directory of public anarchist collectives, and anarchism.crd.co, a site providing an overview of anarchism along with resources for further reading and research.We welcome contributions, corrections, suggestions, and feedback. If you would like to contribute to this project, report an error, or have any questions or concerns regarding the copyright of images on this site or any other project of the Anarchist Signal Collective, please contact us at:
[email protected]- Anarchist Signal Collective
Anarchism in the Spanish Revolution
Images documenting the social revolution in anarchist Catalonia and Aragon including the anarchist collectives, militias, everyday life, and images from the broader anti-fascist struggle during the Spanish Civil War.
Organization & Revolutionary Culture
At the start of the revolution the workers started to seize the means of production, anarchist unions and militias expropriated the capitalist class, established self-managed communes, with around 3000 enterprises collectivized in catalonia alone and directly controlled by the workers' through workplace popular assemblies and a union council system federated together into horizontal planning councils like the Economic Council of Catalonia which was used to coordinate certain aspects of production. The revolution created workers' self-management in all aspects, improved & free education, collective & equal food access, decommodification in multiple areas, free and improved healthcare. During the mass expropriations, luxury hotels and upscale restaurants that had previously catered exclusively to the wealthy capitalist class were seized and transformed into public resources, making food and shelter free or affordable. These establishments were opened to anyone in need, all managed collectively by the workers who actually operated them. "They practised the social ethos 'from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.' In a good number of collectives money was abolished, individuals being guaranteed a certain proportion of products from the common supply. The Council of Aragon abolished all money within its area, operating on the basis of a Producer's Card and a Consumer's Card."
Meeting of the CNT-FAI during the Spanish Revolution.
Meeting of the CNT-FAI during the Spanish Revolution.
Meeting of the CNT-FAI during the Spanish Revolution.
Meeting of the CNT-FAI during the Spanish Revolution.
National Plenum of the CNT's Economic Council in January 1938 in Valencia.
Regional Congress of the CNT of Asturias in June 1937 during the Spanish Revolution.
CNT - FAI book kiosk heavily stocked with materials designed to educate, organize, and mobilize the public.
Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona during the Spanish Revolution.
Book fair in Catalonia during the Spanish Revolution.
Book fair in Catalonia during the Spanish Revolution.
Meeting of the Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI) during the Spanish Revolution.
Meeting of the Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI) during the Spanish Revolution
Inauguration of a library opened by the Syndicat Unique des Professions Libérales of the CNT.
Inauguration of a library opened by the Syndicat Unique des Professions Libérales of the CNT.
CNT construction union workers celebrating July 19 1936, the start of the Revolution.
Workers on the streets during the Spanish Revolution.
Headquarters of the Regional Committee of the CNT-FAI in Barcelona.
Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Valencia, during the Spanish Civil War.
Colorized image of two anarchist militants reading the Solidaridad Obrera.
Workers and CNT militia in Barcelona, 1936. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of workers in 1936 Barcelona, posing with an anarchist CNT - FAI - AIT banner depicting Durruti and a hammer smashing fascism. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of a group of civilians, militiamen, and a Guardia de Asalto looking at a recruitment poster. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Images related to feminist anarchist Mujeres Libres(Free Women) organization during the Spanish Revolution. Mujeres Libres was a women's anarchist organization founded in Spain in 1936. It united over 28,000 working-class women to fight for women's emancipation and support the social revolution. The group worked to end illiteracy, improve education, and provide training in childcare, nursing, mechanics, driving, and public transport. It also helped war orphans, supported hospitals and frontline fighters, and offered political and general education for women. Mujeres Libres campaigned to end prostitution and helped former prostitutes. Through its journal, the organization promoted anarchist ideas and encouraged women's participation in the revolution. It worked closely with the CNT, FAI, and Libertarian Youth, sharing their goal of a anarchist libertarian communist society.
A conference of the Federación Mujeres Libres(Free Women Federation).
One of the founders of Mujeres Libres Lucía Sánchez Saornil (left), with influential American anarchist Emma Goldman(middle).
Conference of anarcha-feminist Mujeres Libres organization.
Conference of anarcha-feminist Mujeres Libres organization.
Colorized presentation of Mujeres Libres, the anarchist women's organisation.
Colorized image of various artists of the CNT-FAI supporting the Mujeres Libres by painting posters in Barcelona. Colorized by Julius Backman.
An exhibition organized by Mujeres Libres.
Various magazines published by Mujeres Libres.
Confederal Militias
Famous image of anarchist militiawoman Anita Garbín holding up a flag of the CNT-FAI. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of anarchist militia members.
Colorized image of anarchist militia members of tge García Oliver/Los Aguiluchos column heading out to the front. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of anarchist militia members.
Colorized image of anarchist militia members standing in line for arms. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of anarchist militants of the Durruti Column entering Alcalá Street in Madrid, November 1936.
Colorized image of CNT militiamen posing for the German photographer Gerta Pohorylle. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of CNT militiamen of the Durruti Column. Colorized by Julius Backman.
A group of armed anarchists and agents of the Guardia de Asalto in a lorry in the streets of Barcelona on 21st July 1936. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Militia members of the anarchist CNT-AIT and the anti-stalinist communist POUM onboard a train heading to the front 1936. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Militiamen of the CNT observe the siege of the Alcázar in Toledo 1936. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Militiamen of the Durruti column, on their way to zaragoza, in a street of the town of Bujaraloz, 14 august 1936. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of Marina Ginestà stadning on the rooftop of the Hotel Colón in Barcelona, expropriated by the revolutionaries.
Colorized image of Marina Ginestà stadning on the rooftop of the Hotel Colón in Barcelona, expropriated by the revolutionaries.
Colorized image of prominent anarchist revolutionary Buenaventura Durruti.
Colorized portrait of prominent anarchist militants Francisco Ascaso (left), Buenaventura Durruti (middle) and Gregorio Jover (right), all members of "Los Solidarios." Colorized by Julius Backman.
Anarchist and other anti-fascist militiamen posing during the siege of the Alcázar de Toledo, September 1936.
Anarchist militawomen of the Durruti Column.
Medical Unit, under the auspices of the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation), leaves for the Aragon front, Barcelona, August 1936.
Spanish anarchist Francisco Ascaso(left), with his brother on the Ramblas, Barcelona July 20, 1936. Minutes before he was shot and killed.
Prominent anarchist Buenaventura Durruti talking to a militaman.
Prominent anarchist Buenaventura Durruti talking to a militaman.
Funeral of a CNT militant during the revolution.
CNT-FAI militant at the Bakunin barracks, Barcelona
Fighters of the Ortiz Brigade CNT-FAI.
Fighters of the Ortiz Brigade CNT-FAI.
A column of a CNT militia during the revolution.
Fighters of the Aguiluchos Column.
Fighters of the Ascaso Column.
Anti-fascist fighters in the Spanish Civil War.
Anarchist milita fighters in front of the Bakunin barracks about to leave for the Aragon front.
Anarchist militiaman in, Barcelona during the first months of the civil war.
Anti-fascist militiawomen near Barcelona in the Spanish Civil War.
Anti-fascist militiawoman in the Spanish Civil War.
Portrait of an anarchist militiawoman at the Bakunin Barracks in Barcelona.
Portrait of an anarchist militiaman in Barcelona.
Colorized portrait of an anarchist militiaman. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized portrait of an of the International Brigades militiaman. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Images related to the Malatesta Battalion, also known as Battalion of Death, an Italian anarchist volunteer battalion, in the Spanish Revolution.
Fighters of the Malatesta Battalion, also known as Battalion of Death.
Fighters of the Malatesta Battalion, also known as Battalion of Death.
Fighters of the Battalion of Death participating in a military parade.
Fighters of the Battalion of Death participating in a military parade.
Fighters of the Battalion of Death participating in a military parade.
Militiaman of the Battalion of Death.
Collectivized Industry & Infrastructure
At the start of the revolution the workers started to seize the means of production, anarchist unions and militias expropriated the capitalist class, established self-managed communes, with around 3000 enterprises collectivized in catalonia alone and directly controlled by the workers' through workplace popular assemblies and a union council system federated together into horizontal planning councils like the Economic Council of Catalonia which was used to coordinate certain aspects of production. The revolution created workers' self-management in all aspects, improved & free education, collective & equal food access, decommodification in multiple areas, free and improved healthcare. During the mass expropriations, luxury hotels and upscale restaurants that had previously catered exclusively to the wealthy capitalist class were seized and transformed into public resources. Food and shelter were made free or affordable, and these establishments were opened to anyone in need, all managed collectively by the workers who actually operated them. "They practised the social ethos 'from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.' In a good number of collectives money was abolished, individuals being guaranteed a certain proportion of products from the common supply. The Council of Aragon abolished all money within its area, operating on the basis of a Producer's Card and a Consumer's Card."
Self-managed paper manufacturing factory collectivized by the CNT.
Self-managed paper manufacturing factory collectivized by the CNT.
Self-managed workers in a bakery collectivized by the CNT.
Library in catalonoia opened by the Syndicat Unique des Professions Libérales of the CNT.
Self-managed workers in a Soap factory collectivized by the CNT.
Self-managed workers in a Soap factory collectivized by the CNT.
In 1 year the number of school centers in Catalonia were doubled, they were based on popular education, 128,000 new students were enrolled, over 2000 new teachers recruited, corporal punishments banned.
Children playing in the school yard of one of the new schools opened by the CNT after the revolution.
School set up by the Mujeres Libres based on popular education.
School set up by the Mujeres Libres based on popular education.
School set up by the Mujeres Libres based on popular education.
School set up by the Mujeres Libres based on popular education.
Collectivized industry by the CNT for shoe manufacturing.
Collectivized industry by the CNT for shoe manufacturing.
Collectivized industry by the CNT for shoe manufacturing.
A department store socialized by the CNT during the revolution.
A department store socialized by the CNT during the revolution.
A department store socialized by the CNT during the revolution.
Members of the fortifications commission of the CNT woodworkers' union.
Distribution Department of the Furniture Section of the Socialized Wood and Construction Industry of the CNT.
Technical laboratory for confederated experimentation of the engineers and technicians section of the union of liberal professions of the CNT in Masnou.
The laboratory included microbiology, veterinary science, chemistry, mineralogy, meteorology, seismography, and climatology, and developed fertilizers, vaccines, and other products to improve agricultural production.
Prominent scientists and CNT militants were part of the laboratory's management.
CNT-affiliated scientists and militants at the laboratory.
Men operating sewing machines in a factory collectivized by the CNT.
Women working in a collectivized textile factory in Barcelona.
Andalusian farmers who joined agricultural collectivization efforts.
Farmers taking part in agricultural collectivization efforts in Catalonia.
Civilian & Military Vehicles
In Barcelona, all means of transport were collectivized, at the beginning of the revolution. Fundamentally, the collectivization was the work of the anarchist organization CNT. In the tramway sector, of the 3,442 tramway employees, 3,322 were affiliated with the CNT and specifically with the Sindicato Único Rama Transporte (SURT). In some cases the collectivization was carried out through violent seizures, in others it was more peaceful as many of the owners and managers had fled the city or were unaccounted for. As in the other collectivized companies, it was the general assemblies of workers that decided on the basic orientations. They were bimonthly for the railwaymen and elected a delegate committee of eight workers. There were six members of the delegate Metro Administration Committee and seven of the Tramways. During the Civil War, attempts were made to maintain transport services in an orderly and effective manner, improving the frequencies of passage, lowering and completely ending fares and incorporating new personnel, especially women. The workers' self-management came to apply labor measures aimed at libertarian communism.
Colorized image of a Barcelona tram collectivized by the CNT. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Colorized image of a Barcelona tram collectivized by the CNT.
Image of a Barcelona tram collectivized by the CNT.
Image of a Barcelona tram collectivized by the CNT.
Revolutionary slogans decorate the collectivized railroads. Slogan reads, "The land is yours, workers!"
Workers decorate the collectivized railroads with revolutionary slogans.
CNT-UGT controlled railroad wagons decorated with revolutionary slogans.
CNT-UGT controlled railroad wagons decorated with revolutionary slogans.
CNT-UGT controlled railroad wagons decorated with revolutionary slogans.
CNT-UGT controlled railroad wagons decorated with revolutionary slogans.
A armored train used by the CNT, UGT and FAI.
Militants holding up a anarchist flag on a armored train built by railway workers in Barcelona.
The locomotive of the first train of workers in arms departing for Saragossa in July 1936, at the start of the Spanish Revolution.
Photos of the car models manufactured in the automobile industry socialized by the CNT during the Spanish Revolution.
The locomotive of the first train of workers in arms departing for Saragossa in July 1936, at the start of the Spanish Revolution.
Automobile industry collectivized by the Barcelona CNT, 1936.
Images related to the armored vehicles used by the CNT - FAI confederal militias. The desire to put as much as possible armour, made many of these vehicles weigh too much, thus limiting manoeuvring and speed. Due to this fact, many were quickly knocked out in combat. Only those that were built with better design and techniques, such as those built in Barcelona, had a longer life and even endured the 3 years of war.
A armored vehicle used in the spanish civil war by the CNT - FAI anarchist forces.
Armored vehicles of the Durruti Column entering Alcalá Street in Madrid 1936.
CNT tiznaos and armored cars produced in factories to give militias some kind of armoured support in the opening phases of the war. Barcelona July, 1936.
War tank armored vehicle produced in the collectivized CNT industry.
War tank armored vehicle produced in the collectivized CNT industry.
A BT-5 tank (russian import) used by the Republicans and CNT-FAI captured by a nationalist soldier.
War tank armored vehicle produced in the collectivized CNT industry.
War tank armored vehicle produced in the collectivized CNT industry.
War tank armored vehicle produced in the collectivized CNT industry.
War tank armored vehicle produced in the collectivized CNT industry.
Propaganda Posters
Miscellaneous
Newspapers and magazines had long been important in the work of communicating libertarian ideas in Spain. This is a sample of publications associated with the CNT and FAI from many cities and towns in Spain.
Newspapers and magazines had long been important in the work of communicating libertarian ideas in Spain. This is a sample of publications associated with the CNT and FAI from many cities and towns in Spain.
Work Certificate from the Collectivized Foundry Industry of the CNT-UGT during the Spanish Revolution.
Spanish Civil War-era membership card for the CNT.
Document from a collectivized mechanical construction workshop of the CNT during the Spanish Revolution.
Notebook of a student at the CNT's Ferrer secondary school in Madrid-
Matchbox produced in a industry collectivized by the CNT.
Pack of biscuits produced in the food industry collectivized by the CNT.
Magazine "Horizontes Nuevos" of the chemical industry union of the CNT.
Illustrations from anarchist journals during the revolution.
Flyer from a CNT Entertainment Industry Union event during the Spanish Revolution. They regularly hosted entertainment including flamenco, theater, film screenings, music, dance, and variety performances.
Flyer from a CNT Entertainment Industry Union event during the Spanish Revolution. They regularly hosted entertainment including flamenco, theater, film screenings, music, dance, and variety performances.
During the Revolution, the entertainment industry was socialized and the Entertainment Industry union produced films, newsreels, documentaries and managed cinemas, theaters, cabarets, dances, etc.
During the Revolution, the entertainment industry was socialized and the Entertainment Industry union produced films, newsreels, documentaries and managed cinemas, theaters, cabarets, dances, etc.
Screening of the film "The Last Pagan" in a CNT cinema.
Advertisement for Espectáculo, the weekly magazine published by the the Entertainment Industry Union.
Insignias badge of the Battalion of Death also known as Malatesta Battallion.
Insignias badge of the National Railway Industry during the Spanish Revolution.
CNT produced Stamp reading "Helping refugees is a duty."
CNT produced Stamp reading "Our duty? Crush Fascism"
WORK IN PROGRESS
Anarchist Flags and Banners
The History of Anarchist Flags
The most popular and most widely recognized symbol of anarchism today is the red and black flag. Today, it is used across nearly all branches of anarchist thought. A more recent development has been the adoption of distinct color combinations by specific anarchist tendencies, which pair their chosen color with black in a manner similar to the red and black flag. Most of these newer flag designs emerged with the internet era, when online communities made it easier for niche ideological currents to develop and popularize their own symbols.In these flags, the black half typically represents anarchism itself.The black flag has long been closely associated with the anarchist movement and is often regarded as its default symbol. Historically, however, anarchists initially identified with the red flag. Over the course of several decades, the black flag gradually supplanted the red flag as the primary emblem of anarchism.The red flag was originally adopted because anarchism as a form of socialism, naturally used the same symbols as the broader socialist movement, which had already embraced red as its symbolic color. At the same time, black flags were also used by various workers' movements. As anarchism developed its own distinct identity, the black flag increasingly became its preferred symbol and eventually came to represent the movement as a whole.The iconic red and black flag did not appear until the 1930s. It was first associated with anarcho-syndicalism, particularly during the Spanish Civil War era, but it quickly spread beyond that tendency. Over time, it became the most recognizable symbol of anarchism and remains so today.
The first major flag of the anarchist movement. Peter Kropotkin later wrote that he preferred the use of the red flag.
The second major flag of the anarchist movement. At some point it overtook the red flag in popularity in the anarchist movement.
The most popular and most common anarchist flag today. First popularized through the 1930s anarcho-syndicalist movement.
Italian Anarchist Flags and Banners
Italian Anarcho-Syndicalist flag of the Associació Internacional dels Treballadors (AIT).
Flag of Parma's anarchists. Anarchists often paired the torch with the book, which symbolized liberation through knowledge as emancipatory ideas reached people long denied access to culture.
Italian anarchist flag embroidered between 1919 and 1920. Its imagery symbolizing breaking every chain of exploitation and oppression.
1946 banner d edicated by Rimini’s anarchists to anarchist militant Luigi Galleani. The banner marks moment when the anarchist movement of Rimini reclaimed its place after twenty years of fascism.
Hand-embroidered in 1945 by anarchist tailor Ludovico Vergendo, with its soaring torch symbol, the banner of the Imola "Errico Malatesta" group is still the official flag of Imola’s anarchists today, marking an unbroken libertarian presence in the town.
Flag of the italian “Michele Bakounine” group.
"Neither servants nor masters" 1907 anarchist flag from an italian mining are.
"Not a penny, not a soldier" 1907 anti-war anarchist flag made from an italian mining area.
Spanish Anarchist Flags and Banners
Colorized image of the red/black classic and most common anarchist flag during the spanish revolution. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Image of the red/black classic and most common anarchist flag during the spanish revolution.
Colorized image of workers in 1936 Barcelona, posing with an anarchist CNT - FAI - AIT banner depicting Durruti and a hammer smashing fascism. Colorized by Julius Backman.
Workers in 1936 Barcelona, posing with an anarchist CNT - FAI - AIT banner depicting Durruti and a hammer smashing fascism.
Colorized version of the anarchist flag of the CNT - FAI - AIT from Barcelona 1936.
Anarchist flag of the CNT - FAI - AIT from Barcelona 1936.
A anarchist flag of the CNT - FAI - AIT from Tamarite de Litera, Spain.
Flag of the Battalion of Death, an italian volunteer battalion fighting in the Spanish Revolution.
Anarchist flag of the Regional Council of Defense of Aragon.
Digital recreation of the Regional Council of Defense of Aragon flag.
Ukrainian Anarchist Flags and Banners
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
Consectetur
Colorized by Julius Backman.
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Banner
Workers on the streets during the Spanish Revolution. banner
Anarchist Image Resource
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