The Attack (painting)

The Attack (Finnish: *Hyökkäys*), painted by Edvard Isto, is among Finland’s most well-known artworks. It shows a double-headed eagle, representing Russia, lunging at the Finnish Maiden and trying to take her book of laws. Isto finished the painting in 1899, the year Tsar Nicholas II issued the February Manifesto. The title came from Emmi Ajo, wife of Isto’s close friend Benjamin Ajo. The image spread widely as prints; Isto had thousands produced in both Finland and Germany. The model was Emma Kyöstäjä, a fellow native of Alatornio. In autumn 1899, the painting was shown secretly at a beach villa in Helsinki’s Kaivopuisto district. The Tilgmann press made at least a couple hundred prints. When the gendarmerie learned of it, Isto fled to Germany via Sweden, taking the painting and prints. In Berlin, the press Meissenbach & Rippart produced over ten thousand rotogravure photographic reproductions (48 × 37.5 cm, with a picture size of 30 × 21.5 cm). At least six postcard editions were made, one with Russian text. Alex Federley created a postcard variation in which the eagle has given up and left the Finnish Maiden alone with her law book. In 1900, Isto brought the painting to the Alatornio clergy house, but later moved it back to Sweden for safety. A few years on, he tried to dispose of it through a lottery; the Helsinki woman who won it dared not accept it. Isto bought it back and sold it to a Swedish businessman from Luleå, who then gave it to municipal official Niilo Helander in Heinola. Helander’s widow donated the painting to the Finnish Heritage Agency.