The defense of Petrograd 1928

Aleksandr Deyneka made this painting of Petrograd’s defense with oils, and it's all about the power of process, even when depicting war. Look how Deyneka applies paint, layering thin washes of color to build form. Notice the muted palette, dominated by grays and browns, creating a somber mood. But it’s not just the colors themselves; it’s how he uses them. See the way the figures on the bridge almost dissolve into the background, while those marching below are more defined? The paint handling here feels deliberately uneven, as if to suggest the weight of history. The brushwork is visible, almost frantic, especially in the faces of the soldiers, lending the artwork a sense of urgency. Deyneka reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, who captured the grief of war through a similar lens of human struggle. Both of them understood that art doesn't have to be pretty; it just needs to be true.