1899
tempera
panel
From the collection of Kunsthaus Zürich
War is a 1899 tempera by Arnold Böcklin, a Symbolism work, held at Kunsthaus Zürich.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene of war, with a woman riding a horse and brandishing a hammer in one hand. She is accompanied by a man in a red robe, who is also holding a hammer. The woman appears to be nude, with her arms raised in a gesture of defiance or triumph. In the background, a cityscape is visible, with buildings and towers that suggest a medieval or ancient setting. The overall mood of the painting is one of chaos and destruction, with the woman and man at the center of the action. The use of tempera as a medium adds a sense of texture and depth to the painting, highlighting the dramatic contrasts between light and dark. For more information on the artist's use of this technique, look up Arnold Böcklin.
Arnold Böcklin was a Swiss Symbolist painter. His five versions of the Isle of the Dead inspired works by several late Romantic composers.
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