Soldiers 1918

Laszlo Mednyanszky painted Soldiers with oils to give us this atmospheric glimpse into a moment of conflict. Look at the way he’s built up the image, layer by layer, with these earthy tones. It’s all ochres, browns, and muted greens, smudged and blended to create a hazy, dreamlike quality. The texture is incredible, thick in some places, thin and transparent in others, creating a real sense of depth and movement. I find myself drawn to the way Mednyanszky uses these loose, gestural marks. The way he renders the figures – they almost dissolve into the landscape. He obscures as much as he reveals. Which makes me think about artists like Corot, who were also interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. But while Corot’s landscapes are serene and idyllic, Mednyanszky’s painting is charged with tension and unease. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be beautiful – it can also be unsettling, provocative, and ambiguous.