After the battle. 1923 Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin (1878-1939)

Description of Kuzma Petrov Vodkin’s painting "After the Fight

Petrov-Vodkin’s painting "After the Fight," painted in 1923, was an important milestone in the artist’s painting, marking a new stage in his creative quests. Up to that moment all paintings of the artist did not have a specific time reference and were not specific in nature. The characters of his paintings could be placed in any period of time - and everywhere they would look authentic.

"After the Fight" is a painting that has a clear, specific reference to the era depicted. It was not enough for the artist to depict three sad Red Army men remembering their fallen comrade. In order to strengthen the impact of his work, he depicts an episode of battle in the background, mentally rising before the eyes of the heroes. The Red Army men see their comrade precisely at the moment of his death - and this vision obscures the battle itself. It is as if the moment of death is imprinted on the back of the eyelids of everyone sitting at the table - there is no doubt that they will long remember what happened. The memory that prompted the gathering of all the participants around the table is depicted in cold blue tones, which further emphasizes the eerie essence of what is happening.

In contrast, the grieving Red Army men in the foreground of the painting are painted in warm colors, with soft strokes, making a striking contrast to the transparent dark blue background. There is no hatred or thirst for revenge on the faces of the characters - rather, a warm sadness for a comrade-in-arms who died so early. The sad, inspired images of the warriors serve as a reminder of the frailty of all life. The empty kettle on the table emphasizes the chilling emptiness at the border of life and death, which no doubt the soldiers felt. Each of them understands that tomorrow he too may be on that border - but the determination and firmness in their gazes indicate a desire to fight to the end, to victory.