Off to Fashoda fighting the Sud
1898
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1898
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This sketch shows a busy river scene with two steam-powered gunboats. One boat is packed with soldiers in white uniforms, standing on deck and peering over the sides. The other boat has fewer people, and both ships are moving through shallow water with reeds along the shore. In the background, another steamer puffs smoke, and birds fly over the scene. The soldiers’ uniforms suggest they’re part of a military mission, and the title hints at a conflict in Sudan. The artist used quick, loose brushstrokes to capture the movement and mood of the moment. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this sketch in person.
