The Battle of Mohács (1526) 1866

Bertalan Székely painted 'The Battle of Mohács' in 1866 using oil on canvas, and it immerses us in a landscape of devastation. The lower field is littered with fallen soldiers, their bodies contorted in the throes of death. The scene is dominated by a palette of fiery reds, oranges, and browns, evoking heat and chaos. Note the diagonal composition, sharply dividing the canvas into areas of light and shadow, which intensifies the sense of turmoil. The diffuse light emanating from the upper field silhouettes the battling armies. Székely uses these formal devices to destabilize the glorification of warfare, instead emphasizing its brutal reality. The artwork challenges romantic notions of heroism, forcing viewers to confront the human cost of conflict. The lack of clear heroic figures underscores the chaotic nature of battle, offering an interpretation of historical narrative not as a tale of triumph but as one of profound loss.