Bivak der kozakken, 9 december 1813 Possibly 1813

Pieter Gerardus van Os made this drawing in 1813 using pen and brush in grey ink. The thinness of the ink washes and fine lines achieved with the pen reveal an artist skillful in his handling of the materials. The artwork has a raw, immediate quality because of its monochromatic palette, which emphasizes the bleakness of winter. The artist was able to create tonal variation with the grey ink by diluting it to different degrees, and using the washes to build up darker areas of shadow and depth. The starkness of the medium reflects the stark reality of the scene – a bivouac of Cossack soldiers in the midst of war. Van Os’s choice to depict the Cossacks in a moment of rest provides insight into the conditions of the labor involved in war. The scene is stripped of heroism, presenting instead the everyday struggles of soldiers surviving in harsh conditions. Paying close attention to the artist's hand and his choice of materials, allows us to understand the social and political context that shaped the artwork’s meaning and emotional impact.