The artwork titled “Civil War,” created by Bo Bartlett in 1994, is an exemplary piece belonging to the art movement of Contemporary Realism. This figurative painting, crafted with oil on linen, measures an impressive 340.36 by 518.16 centimeters and hails from the United States.
The artwork strikingly portrays a poignant and somber scene within a desolate winter landscape. In the foreground, a powerful composition centers on a woman in white garb, standing resolutely over a fallen, shirtless man with dark complexion, whose lifeless body she cradles. His reflection is captured in a pool of water, further emphasizing the somber mood. Scattered nearby are objects of clothing, including boots, hinting at a narrative of conflict and loss. In the background, another figure in a red cloak tenderly supports a wounded soldier, with other indistinct figures visible in the distance. The sparse presence of a tree and wooden post enhances the starkness of the wintry expanse, deepening the emotional resonance of the scene depicted. Through meticulous detail and evocative imagery, Bartlett masterfully captures the profound human cost of war.
