Sinking the Turkish steamer 'Intibach' by boats of ship 'Grand Duke Constantine' in the Batumi raid on the night of January 14, 1878 1880

Curator: This painting before us, created in 1880 by Lev Lagorio, depicts "Sinking the Turkish steamer 'Intibach' by boats of ship 'Grand Duke Constantine' in the Batumi raid on the night of January 14, 1878." It's an oil-on-canvas rendering of a naval engagement. Editor: Woah, even without the long title, that ship getting hit… there’s a dramatic intensity. It’s almost dreamlike. The cold greens and blues lend an eerie feel—a maritime nightmare frozen in time. Curator: The composition leverages a rather classical romanticist structure, emphasizing the sublimity of nature—the looming mountains, the expansive sea—and humankind's engagement with it, or rather, in this case, conflict against it. Notice the calculated arrangement of the ships. Editor: True, the small boats add to a sense of vulnerability, but I'm also struck by that explosion of almost neon green amidst all the cold tones. What a surreal splash! It clashes and fascinates all at once, hinting at a sort of otherworldly, dare I say, toxic beauty emerging from violence. Curator: Indeed. That contrasting use of color disrupts any straightforward interpretation. We have to acknowledge that Lagorio was not just documenting an event, but interpreting it, framing it. It’s a history painting, after all, but its visual language trends into symbolism. Editor: Exactly! Like, the sea isn't just the sea here, you know? It's this infinite stage on which these little dramas of power play out. And these little boats, battling against fate, just… whoa. I like it. I’m just picturing myself being in there, I hope the Turkish seamen managed to stay alive in that freezing water after such attack. What an icy dip that would’ve been! Curator: Well, setting aside such imaginative recreations, the artist successfully uses light and color to underscore the naval battle’s inherent tension but moreover its romantic undertones—the awesome power. The technical skill with which Lagorio evokes the water and atmosphere is notable. Editor: And on an intuitive level, it stirs something profound. It's like… a meditation on fleeting moments and grand narratives, all mixed up in shades of dread and beauty. I am sold! Curator: Agreed. It is, fundamentally, about conveying the drama and the scale. A visual feast on history. Editor: Mmm. I might remember that vision when I dip my toes into the sea next summer. Makes you think twice about all that supposed tranquility.