Shipka Pass 

Vasily Vereshchagin created this painting, Shipka Pass, with oil paints on canvas. While these are traditional materials, Vereshchagin's choice of subject matter elevates the everyday experiences of laborers, specifically soldiers, to that of high art. The heavy impasto of the paint evokes the dense, cold atmosphere of a snow-covered mountain. Look closely at the tiny figures traversing the landscape, their laborious journey emphasized by the thick paint. The artist has translated the physical exertion of labor onto the canvas itself, layer upon layer, to convey the harsh realities faced by these soldiers. Through this painting, Vereshchagin blurs the lines between fine art and social commentary. He reminds us that art can be found in the most unlikely of places, and that even the most traditional materials can be used to tell stories of labor, politics, and consumption.