Rebuffed by storming the fortress Bayaset June 8/1877. 1891. Oil on canvas. Lev Lagorio (1827-1905)

The composition presents a scene of military engagement centered around a fortified structure. A substantial group of soldiers advances across a terrain that descends sharply towards the fortress walls. The landscape is dominated by rugged mountains rising in the background, suggesting a remote and challenging geographical location.
Here we see a clear division between the attacking force and the defenders. The attackers are arranged in tight formation, their uniforms appearing dark and uniform against the lighter tones of the ground they traverse. They move with a determined, almost relentless pace towards the fortress. Several figures have already fallen, scattered across the foreground, indicating heavy resistance and significant casualties.
The fortress itself is depicted as imposing and formidable. The walls are thick and weathered, punctuated by arched openings that serve as defensive positions. Within these openings, soldiers armed with rifles are visible, actively engaging the advancing troops. One figure atop the wall appears to be signaling or directing fire. The architecture suggests a structure of considerable age and strategic importance.
The artist employed a muted color palette, dominated by earth tones – browns, grays, and ochres – which contribute to the overall sense of grim realism. Light plays an important role in shaping the scene; it illuminates the advancing soldiers while casting the fortress walls in shadow, emphasizing their defensive strength. The atmospheric perspective used for the distant mountains creates a feeling of vastness and isolation.
Subtexts within the painting hint at themes of conflict, resilience, and perhaps futility. The sheer number of attackers contrasted with the seemingly impenetrable defenses suggests an unequal struggle. The fallen soldiers in the foreground serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war. The composition’s scale – the vastness of the landscape dwarfing the figures involved – implies that this event is part of a larger, perhaps intractable conflict. Theres a sense of stoicism and grim determination on both sides, but also an underlying suggestion that victory may be elusive or come at a devastating price. The painting doesn’t celebrate triumph; instead, it portrays a moment frozen in time – a confrontation defined by hardship and loss.