RED CLYDE
Rent Strike
Paintings © Ken Currie, Reproduced courtesy of The People's Palace, Glasgow
Between June 1915 and March 1916 a rent strike was organised in Glasgow. It was essentially a women's fight with many of the male householders being away at war. The rents had been increased because of demand for accommodation for munitions' workers. Eighteen women were taken to court and 10, 000 protested.
In portraying "Red Clydeside" the artist has included images of suffragettes taking part in the Rent Strike. The fight for "justice" combines the demand for the vote with the demand for just rents. Fearing a General Strike, the government passed the Rent Restrictions Act to prevent large rent increases. Women received the vote in 1918.
How has colour been used to suggest suffragettes?
Why do you think the artist included women in every panel?