The Barbarian Enemy. On the Soča Line, Austrian aviators shoot with machine guns over our column of wounded 1915

Achille Beltrame made this image, 'The Barbarian Enemy', on the Soča Line, depicting Austrian aviators shooting at a column of wounded soldiers. The colours are muted, almost a sepia tone, giving the sense of something historical and faded. The mark-making is quite tight and controlled, which feels appropriate for a scene of such chaos and violence. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the paper coming through the thin washes of colour. The artist hasn't tried to hide the process; instead, the image feels immediate, like a news report from the front lines. Notice the dark, gestural strokes used to depict the explosions in the background. They convey the force and terror of the attack, contrasting sharply with the more detailed rendering of the figures in the foreground. It reminds me of Goya’s ‘Disasters of War’ series, a similar unflinching depiction of the horrors of conflict. Ultimately, the piece shows art embracing multiple interpretations, not just fixed or definitive meanings.