Scene of War in the Middle Ages 1865

Edgar Degas painted "Scene of War in the Middle Ages" using oil on canvas, but its vision of conflict speaks to his own time. The image shows medieval horsemen riding past naked corpses and struggling figures. While the scene seems set in the Middle Ages, it resonates with 19th-century anxieties about war and violence. France had just undergone the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, so Degas and his contemporaries were acutely aware of the brutality of conflict. The painting uses historical allegory to comment on contemporary social issues. The nude bodies evoke vulnerability and loss of innocence, challenging romanticized notions of warfare. Degas painted this in the lead-up to becoming involved with the Impressionists, whose project of portraying everyday life challenged the conservative art establishment. To fully understand a painting like this, we need to consider its historical and cultural context. By researching the social and political climate of 19th-century France, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the messages Degas was trying to convey.