War 1896

Arnold Böcklin’s *War* (1896) is a powerful and haunting depiction of the horrors of war. The painting features a central figure of Death, riding a skeletal steed and wielding a scythe, charging towards a terrified woman who is being attacked by a knight. The scene is set against a backdrop of a medieval city, with the looming figure of Death casting a long shadow over the entire composition. Böcklin’s work is characterized by its use of symbolic imagery and its evocative atmosphere, and *War* is a powerful example of his style. The painting is currently housed in the Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland.