End of Borodino battle. 1899-1900 Vasily Vereshchagin (1842-1904)

This painting depicts a chaotic and brutal scene of the Battle of Borodino. In the foreground, fallen soldiers and horses litter the ground, their bodies contorted in death. Smoke billows in the background, obscuring the full scope of the battlefield, but hints of ongoing conflict can be seen in distant figures and plumes of smoke.
The overwhelming impression is one of intense violence and the grim reality of war. The artist has captured the raw emotion of the battle, with expressions of agony and despair on some of the fallen soldiers faces. The use of dramatic lighting and a muted color palette further emphasizes the somber and tragic nature of the event.
The subtext of the painting lies in its portrayal of the immense human cost of war. It serves as a stark reminder of the suffering and sacrifice endured by soldiers on both sides. The focus on the grim aftermath, rather than a glorious victory, suggests a critical perspective on the futility and destruction inherent in armed conflict. The painting evokes a sense of loss and a profound reflection on the price of war.