Fraser Raeburn
@fraserraeburn.bsky.social
Historian interested in foreign fighters, transnational solidarities, emotion, anti-fascism and the Spanish Civil War. Currently based at @uvahumanities.bsky.social. Author 'Scots and the Spanish Civil War' (EUP, 2020). He/him.
Genuine peace offering or court-mandated statement?
October 27, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Genuine peace offering or court-mandated statement?
You can celebrate autumn in the Netherlands, but only in specially designated holiday zones.
October 11, 2025 at 7:29 AM
You can celebrate autumn in the Netherlands, but only in specially designated holiday zones.
Which way, historians.
August 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Which way, historians.
My apologies their high actually peaked later
August 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
My apologies their high actually peaked later
Just imagining some genius management consultant howling at the moon after their all-nighter managed to distill the brand down to its purest essence
August 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Just imagining some genius management consultant howling at the moon after their all-nighter managed to distill the brand down to its purest essence
Cannot emphasise enough how much I do not want to see a film that is deliberately targeting Reddit users.
July 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Cannot emphasise enough how much I do not want to see a film that is deliberately targeting Reddit users.
Quite the trajectory for the fathers next week then.
July 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Quite the trajectory for the fathers next week then.
Two of my favourite photos from Budapest Pride, mostly due to the juxtaposition of political symbols
June 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Two of my favourite photos from Budapest Pride, mostly due to the juxtaposition of political symbols
The Dutch: The idea that everyone in the Netherlands is a drug dealer is tired and overdone
The Netherlands:
The Netherlands:
June 25, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Dutch: The idea that everyone in the Netherlands is a drug dealer is tired and overdone
The Netherlands:
The Netherlands:
Everyone: wow Scandinavian design is so functional, so aesthetic
Scandinavian design:
Scandinavian design:
June 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Everyone: wow Scandinavian design is so functional, so aesthetic
Scandinavian design:
Scandinavian design:
And... the last survivor!
A different style altogether, a little more literal in depicting Republican planes downing enemy fighters and bombers. The artist manages to create a wonderfully dynamic tableau here, full of drama and movement.
A nice note to end on - hope you've enjoyed!
A different style altogether, a little more literal in depicting Republican planes downing enemy fighters and bombers. The artist manages to create a wonderfully dynamic tableau here, full of drama and movement.
A nice note to end on - hope you've enjoyed!
May 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
And... the last survivor!
A different style altogether, a little more literal in depicting Republican planes downing enemy fighters and bombers. The artist manages to create a wonderfully dynamic tableau here, full of drama and movement.
A nice note to end on - hope you've enjoyed!
A different style altogether, a little more literal in depicting Republican planes downing enemy fighters and bombers. The artist manages to create a wonderfully dynamic tableau here, full of drama and movement.
A nice note to end on - hope you've enjoyed!
A lot of fascinating choices here - Franco as the stylised towering, grim reaper-style figure wearing a swastika and his little group of rotund retainers (a general, a businessman and a priest walk into a bar...) in train.
Possibly historic as the only depiction of Franco that makes him look tall.
Possibly historic as the only depiction of Franco that makes him look tall.
May 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
A lot of fascinating choices here - Franco as the stylised towering, grim reaper-style figure wearing a swastika and his little group of rotund retainers (a general, a businessman and a priest walk into a bar...) in train.
Possibly historic as the only depiction of Franco that makes him look tall.
Possibly historic as the only depiction of Franco that makes him look tall.
In my mind, this is a poster designed by committee - Ministry of Agriculture bureaucrats solemnly dictating all the text that needs to be included, and the artist just nodding along because he knows that no one is looking at the words when Spansih Crocodile Dundee is waving an impaled snake around.
May 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM
In my mind, this is a poster designed by committee - Ministry of Agriculture bureaucrats solemnly dictating all the text that needs to be included, and the artist just nodding along because he knows that no one is looking at the words when Spansih Crocodile Dundee is waving an impaled snake around.
Look at this absolute unit.
Once again, masterful combination of literal and figurative elements to produce a really powerful image. This would have been a strong contener for the book, had multiple other people not had the exact same idea.
Once again, masterful combination of literal and figurative elements to produce a really powerful image. This would have been a strong contener for the book, had multiple other people not had the exact same idea.
May 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Look at this absolute unit.
Once again, masterful combination of literal and figurative elements to produce a really powerful image. This would have been a strong contener for the book, had multiple other people not had the exact same idea.
Once again, masterful combination of literal and figurative elements to produce a really powerful image. This would have been a strong contener for the book, had multiple other people not had the exact same idea.
Another example of the visuals going very hard - a great example of how posters work as an art form, combining literal and symbolic elements to produce a violent, destructive image. There's no mistaking the message here.
May 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Another example of the visuals going very hard - a great example of how posters work as an art form, combining literal and symbolic elements to produce a violent, destructive image. There's no mistaking the message here.
Now *this* is a much more menancing way to portray the sinister Italian intervention, and the text and colour scheme go *hard*.
Only slightly undermined by the looming hand of fascism choosing to give Spain a cheeky little pinch.
Only slightly undermined by the looming hand of fascism choosing to give Spain a cheeky little pinch.
May 8, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Now *this* is a much more menancing way to portray the sinister Italian intervention, and the text and colour scheme go *hard*.
Only slightly undermined by the looming hand of fascism choosing to give Spain a cheeky little pinch.
Only slightly undermined by the looming hand of fascism choosing to give Spain a cheeky little pinch.
A small breather here - I genuinely don't know who made this poster and if it was supposed to be comic or not (I suspect not), but the jackboot full of miniature Italian soldiers is giving more 'nursery rhyme' than 'resist the fascist invaders'.
Also, the flames look uncannily like fire emojis 🔥🔥🔥
Also, the flames look uncannily like fire emojis 🔥🔥🔥
May 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A small breather here - I genuinely don't know who made this poster and if it was supposed to be comic or not (I suspect not), but the jackboot full of miniature Italian soldiers is giving more 'nursery rhyme' than 'resist the fascist invaders'.
Also, the flames look uncannily like fire emojis 🔥🔥🔥
Also, the flames look uncannily like fire emojis 🔥🔥🔥
A completely different style on this soldier, who had traded a rifle for grenades, and has decided to wear a shirt today.
I find it harder to articulate why I like this one so much - I suppose because it feels *gritty*. Yes, this is hard, and difficult and dangerous - and we're doing it anyway.
I find it harder to articulate why I like this one so much - I suppose because it feels *gritty*. Yes, this is hard, and difficult and dangerous - and we're doing it anyway.
May 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
A completely different style on this soldier, who had traded a rifle for grenades, and has decided to wear a shirt today.
I find it harder to articulate why I like this one so much - I suppose because it feels *gritty*. Yes, this is hard, and difficult and dangerous - and we're doing it anyway.
I find it harder to articulate why I like this one so much - I suppose because it feels *gritty*. Yes, this is hard, and difficult and dangerous - and we're doing it anyway.
A running theme emerges in SCW posters that it was *essential* that very buff soldiers fight topless whenever possible.
More abstract here - the anarchist colours make for a striking background for the stylised figures. Not sure the artist had actually seen a gun before.
More abstract here - the anarchist colours make for a striking background for the stylised figures. Not sure the artist had actually seen a gun before.
May 8, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A running theme emerges in SCW posters that it was *essential* that very buff soldiers fight topless whenever possible.
More abstract here - the anarchist colours make for a striking background for the stylised figures. Not sure the artist had actually seen a gun before.
More abstract here - the anarchist colours make for a striking background for the stylised figures. Not sure the artist had actually seen a gun before.
This one is from the Catalan section of the Socorro Rojo Internacional.
This is a great depiction of the Popular Front ideal - you've got banners representing everyone from anarchists to Catalan nationalists, all marching together in an unstoppable wave.
Dove looks a little like a ghost tbf.
This is a great depiction of the Popular Front ideal - you've got banners representing everyone from anarchists to Catalan nationalists, all marching together in an unstoppable wave.
Dove looks a little like a ghost tbf.
May 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This one is from the Catalan section of the Socorro Rojo Internacional.
This is a great depiction of the Popular Front ideal - you've got banners representing everyone from anarchists to Catalan nationalists, all marching together in an unstoppable wave.
Dove looks a little like a ghost tbf.
This is a great depiction of the Popular Front ideal - you've got banners representing everyone from anarchists to Catalan nationalists, all marching together in an unstoppable wave.
Dove looks a little like a ghost tbf.
Rosie the Riveter has competition!
More muted colours here, but the central figure is presented and framed incredibly powerfully - there's no sugarcoating what she's there to do.
More muted colours here, but the central figure is presented and framed incredibly powerfully - there's no sugarcoating what she's there to do.
May 8, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Rosie the Riveter has competition!
More muted colours here, but the central figure is presented and framed incredibly powerfully - there's no sugarcoating what she's there to do.
More muted colours here, but the central figure is presented and framed incredibly powerfully - there's no sugarcoating what she's there to do.