After the Fight 1920 - 1930

Vasily Vereshchagin made this painting, After the Fight, with oil on canvas, but the exact date is unknown. The palette here is so muted, a study in greys and whites, which for me, really drives home the somber mood, like the world itself is in mourning. And look how Vereshchagin handles the texture of the snow. He uses these short, choppy brushstrokes that give it a kind of gritty, almost curdled look. It's not the fluffy, pristine snow of a holiday card, that’s for sure. This snow is heavy, stained, and feels like another casualty of the battle. The way the paint is applied, thick in some areas and thin in others, creates this uneven surface that mimics the harsh reality of a battlefield. The stark realism reminds me of Goya, especially his Disasters of War series. Both artists aren't afraid to show the brutal aftermath of conflict, and they both do it with such unflinching honesty. It’s art that makes you uncomfortable, but in a way that forces you to confront some hard truths about humanity.