[ClearCase_guy]

There is certainly something to what you say. However, the French Revolution certainly used Art as a Weapon. A great deal of pornography was produced, featuring Marie Antoinette ("proving" to the people that she was unfit to be Queen). The great painter David then portrayed Napoleon (and other revolutionary figures) in ways that helped sway public opinion.

Moving past that, the Spanish painter Goya and the French painter Millet portrayed victims of the Ruling Class and working peasants in ways which were designed to evoke sympathy.

Lenin contributed, but did not originate, the Art as a Political Weapon meme.

[.cnI redruM]

The distinction I would make is that early instances of the political use of art were not organized under the imprimatur of a mass political movement. They were not a piece of the fighting doctrine so to speak.

Lenin deserves particular attention because he made the subversion of art a staple of his method of changing and controlling society.