After the attack. Dressings item Plevna. 1881 Vasily Vereshchagin (1842-1904)
Vasily Vereshchagin – After the attack. Dressings item Plevna. 1881
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Painter: Vasily Vereshchagin
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The painting was painted in 1878. Vereshchagin dedicated it to a significant event: the storming of Plevna, in which a huge number of Russian soldiers died. The artist deeply empathized with the suffering and heroism of the soldiers. The painting belongs to the Balkan series of paintings that the author created from 1878 to 1881. Vereshchagin was very concerned with harsh military reality, which was the reason for writing several cycles of paintings of military subjects. The canvas "At Plevna" shows us the heroism and cruel existence in the years of hard war.
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Description of Vasily Vereshchagin’s painting At Plevna
The painting was painted in 1878. Vereshchagin dedicated it to a significant event: the storming of Plevna, in which a huge number of Russian soldiers died. The artist deeply empathized with the suffering and heroism of the soldiers.
The painting belongs to the Balkan series of paintings that the author created from 1878 to 1881. Vereshchagin was very concerned with harsh military reality, which was the reason for writing several cycles of paintings of military subjects.
The canvas "At Plevna" shows us the heroism and cruel existence in the years of hard war. In the background are the tents that received the wounded soldiers. The panorama in the distance shows the fire and smoke of the recent battle.
It is easy to see that there was not enough room for everyone in the dressing station, and exhausted soldiers are waiting for help lying on the ground. Some can still walk, some of the fighters are being carried on stretchers. Perhaps there are already dead among them.
All around are scorched earth, soaked in blood and suffering. The scorching sun aggravates the already difficult situation of the soldiers. There are weapons strewn everywhere. But who knows, perhaps this is not the last battle and how much evil will be spilled in these parts...
The artist portrayed the harsh reality of war without smoothing over the hard edges, showing all the gravity and seriousness of events in all their unsightly and ruthless moments. After all, during the war it was everywhere.
Vereshchagin, created the canvas with historical accuracy. To do this, he studied a lot of documentation and specific material. Each soldier he painted individually, so that there was no identical poses or gestures. Vereshchagin was able to convey the depth of suffering and the power of the Russian spirit. The artist felt as if he were there, near the dressing station at Plevna.
200 years later, we can plunge into the thick of it and relive all the pain and heroism of Russian soldiers. Vereshchagin’s painting gives us an awareness and memory of the significant battle of Plevna.
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A cluster of large tents occupies the midground, serving as the primary medical facility. Within these structures, figures in white coats appear to be attending to the wounded, their actions suggesting a desperate attempt at providing aid. The artist has rendered them with a degree of detail that contrasts sharply with the anonymity afforded to the fallen soldiers. A man in a more formal uniform stands near the tents, seemingly observing the proceedings; his posture conveys an air of authority and perhaps detached concern.
The background is characterized by a hazy landscape, punctuated by distant smoke rising from what appears to be ongoing skirmishes or fires. This atmospheric perspective creates a sense of depth while simultaneously obscuring the full extent of the devastation. The color palette is predominantly earthy – browns, ochres, and muted greens – which reinforces the grim reality of the scene.
Subtly, the composition directs attention towards the contrast between life and death. While the medical personnel strive to preserve existence within the tents, the foreground relentlessly displays its absence. This juxtaposition underscores the futility of war and the immense human cost associated with armed conflict. The sheer number of casualties depicted conveys a sense of overwhelming loss and despair.
The artist’s use of light is also significant; it illuminates the suffering while casting shadows over the landscape, creating an atmosphere of both hope and sorrow. The overall effect is one of profound emotional weight, prompting reflection on the fragility of human life and the enduring consequences of violence.