Vylazka iz Sevastopolia proizvedennaia 18 go na 19 e aprelia 1855 goda Russian folk splints

The composition presents a panoramic view of a chaotic scene unfolding on a sloping terrain. The artist has divided the space into distinct zones using color and perspective, creating a sense of depth despite the flattened quality characteristic of lithography. A band of intense blue dominates the left side, depicting what appears to be a body of water or perhaps a flooded area, reflecting the tumultuous sky above. This section is densely populated with figures – soldiers, civilians, and horses – struggling against the elements and each other. Their postures convey desperation and exhaustion.
Moving towards the center, the color palette shifts to shades of purple and ochre, representing higher ground where more organized military activity takes place. Here we see a concentrated group of men engaged in what seems to be an evacuation or retreat. The figures are smaller in scale compared to those on the left, emphasizing their distance and perhaps suggesting a broader strategic context. A sense of urgency is palpable; individuals are depicted scrambling over obstacles, some carrying supplies while others appear wounded or incapacitated.
The right side of the image features a lighter, more yellowish hue, indicating further recession into the background. This area shows a continuation of the movement, with figures dispersing across the landscape. The artist has employed a somewhat simplified rendering of forms in this section, contributing to the overall impression of vastness and overwhelming scale.
The use of color is particularly striking. The jarring juxtaposition of blue, purple, ochre, and yellow creates a visual tension that mirrors the emotional turmoil of the depicted event. These colors are not naturalistic; instead, they serve to amplify the drama and convey a sense of heightened reality. The sky itself is rendered in an unsettling combination of orange and red, suggesting fire or smoke, further contributing to the atmosphere of devastation.
Beneath the scene, a block of text provides contextual information, identifying the event as a departure from Sevastopol on April 18-19, 1855. The inscription’s presence underscores the works documentary intent and anchors it within a specific historical moment – the Crimean War. It also suggests that this is not merely an artistic interpretation but rather a record of a significant event witnessed firsthand.
The composition lacks a clear focal point; instead, the eye is drawn across the entire scene, following the flow of movement and absorbing the collective experience of those involved. The artist’s choice to depict such a sprawling panorama conveys a sense of loss and displacement, highlighting the human cost of conflict on a grand scale.