Reproductie van een prent of tekening met negen personen dansend rondom een meiboom 1894

Duncan C. Dallas created this reproduction of a print or drawing depicting nine figures dancing around a maypole. The original illustration was most likely influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, which emphasized traditional craftsmanship, often incorporating socialist ideals. At the center, a maypole is adorned with ribbons held by figures that include men in working-class attire, women in flowing gowns, and a central female figure at the top, arms outstretched. The banners read: "INDUSTRY," "SOLIDARITY," "HUMANITY," "WORK FOR ALL." The choice of the Maypole, a traditional symbol of community and fertility, to represent workers’ solidarity is particularly fascinating. It suggests an attempt to redefine traditional symbols. Instead of representing pastoral festivity, the maypole becomes a symbol for the collective action and shared labor of the working class. Dallas's work invites us to consider how cultural traditions can be re-appropriated. This print serves as a reminder of the power of collective identity and cultural re-imagining in the pursuit of social change.