''Fyren'' () was a satirical magazine focusing on politics which was published in Helsinki, Finland, between 1898 and 1922. It described itself as a social satire publication which supported free visual and written expressions.

History and profile

''Fyren'' was started in Helsinki in 1898. Rafael Lindqvist was the editor-in-chief of the magazine which targeted educated classes. The magazine declared that it was not interested in party politics. However, it adopted an

anti-Semitic Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...

and anti-Bolshevik political stance and supported Swedish nationalism and

conservatism Conservatism is a Philosophy of culture, cultural, Social philosophy, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, Convention (norm), customs, and Value (ethics and social science ...

. Major contributors of ''Fyren'' included the cartoonists

Alex Federley Alexander Thiodolf Federley (12 July 1864, in Turku – 17 November 1932, in Helsinki) was a Finland-Swedish graphic artist who created political cartoons, posters, book illustrations and postcards. His works are generally signed AFley. Biography ...

Emil Cedercreutz Emil Herman Robert Cedercreutz (16 May 1879 – 28 January 1949), was a Finnish Baron, sculptor and silhouette artist best known of his horse sculptures. He was a member of the family. Life Cedercreutz was born in the and studied in the Fin ...

Signe Hammarsten-Jansson Signe "Ham" Hammarsten-Jansson (née Hammarsten, 1 June 1882 – 6 July 1970) was a Swedish-Finnish graphic artist who designed, among other things, around 220 Finnish postage stamps during the course of three decades.''Suomen postimerkkitaiteilij ...

and Antti Favén. It was subject to strict censorship by the Russian authorities until the independence of Finland in 1917. In addition, a cartoonist of the magazine, Eric Vasström, was imprisoned for three months due to a caricature depicting a Russian noblewoman dancing with a Finnish commoner. The caricature was published after the visit of the

Russian royal family Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

to Finland and was regarded as an insult to the Russian royals. ''Fyren'' published a special issue in 1915 to celebrate the 50th birthday of

Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius (; ; born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius; 8 December 186520 September 1957) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic music, Romantic and 20th-century classical music, early modern periods. He is widely regarded as his countr ...

which covered cartoons featuring Sibelius. ''

Tuulispää ''Tuulispää'' was a satirical magazine which existed between 1903 and 1957. It was the media outlet of conservative nationalism in Finland. However, the magazine described itself as a representative of genuine satire and humor without any party ...

'', another satirical magazine, was the rival of ''Fyren'' in regard to the conflict about the use of the Finnish and Swedish languages. The former supported the Finnish language, whereas ''Fyren'' was a supporter of the use of the Swedish language. However, the same writers contributed to both titles. ''Fyren'' and ''Tuulispää'' sold only 3,000–4,000, but another satirical magazine of the period, ''

Kurikka Kurikka is a List of cities and towns in Finland, town and Municipalities of Finland, municipality in Finland. It is located in the Southern Ostrobothnia regions of Finland, region. The population of Kurikka is () and the municipality covers a ...

'', managed to sell 20,000 copies. ''Fyren'' ceased publication in 1922 and was replaced by another satirical magazine entitled ''Blinkfyren'' which was also edited by Rafael Lindqvist.

Gallery

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fyren 1898 establishments in Finland 1922 disestablishments in Finland Defunct political magazines published in Finland Swedish-language magazines published in Finland Finnish political satire Swedish political satire Magazines established in 1898 Magazines disestablished in 1922 Defunct magazines published in Helsinki Satirical magazines published in Finland Censorship in Finland Antisemitism in Finland Antisemitic publications Conservatism in Finland Swedish nationalism Defunct conservative magazines Defunct Swedish-language magazines