War or the Ride of Discord 1894

Henri Rousseau painted ‘War or the Ride of Discord’ without formal training, using oil on canvas. This painting presents a chilling allegory of war’s devastation. Painted in France, it reflects the unease of a society on the brink of the First World War. Here, Rousseau taps into anxieties about modernization and its potential for mass destruction. The stark imagery – a wild-haired figure of War riding a beast over a field of corpses – evokes a primal vision. It harks back to classical allegories, but with a modern twist. The lack of traditional artistic skill only amplifies the painting’s disturbing message. The artist perhaps critiques the institutional art world with the style he adopts, which is one without convention. To fully understand 'War,' it helps to look at military history, popular culture, and the social anxieties of the early 20th century. Through this painting, Rousseau offers a powerful commentary on the human condition in the face of impending global conflict.