The painting “Attack Unawares” was painted by the artist in 1871. This work is included in seven sketches about the unequal battles of the Russian detachment with the enemies. This is a real battle painting, conveying an atmosphere of fear and pain.
The author tried to show the fortitude of the Russian soldier. Despite the numerical minority, they proudly defend their right to be called a soldier. Quite unexpectedly, among the mountain valley, this bloody battle is fastened. Enemy units jump on horses with bare swords. But a handful of fighters did not get scared at all. On the contrary, the men have rallied and are ready to give the last rebuff to the ill-wishers.
Vereshchagin was able to convey this important point. In the face of every Russian soldier you can see undisguised fear, but courage does not allow you to scatter and hide between rocks. Enemies with a continuous line that goes beyond the horizon, comes on a small detachment. We see weapons and banners that are raised overhead by desperate riders. Russian fighters flee from tents to help their faithful companions. There are already the first victims, someone at this very moment perishes under the hooves of the horse.
Nature on this day is bright and calm. The mountain peaks are covered with a light haze, and the skies are blue. It seems that in the distance only the world and beautiful landscapes. This is a bloody battle in the foreground and a yellowed grass under the soldiers’ feet. The tops are covered with snow and do not foretell anything bad, they are sleeping peacefully, and they are not interested in the war taking place below.
This is a general impression of the author’s Turkestan war. The plot does not bear any historical fact. Such situations were everywhere during that period.
Stories have repeatedly studied this painting, but they have not found the authenticity in the depicted massacre. But this was not what the author wanted to convey, he wanted to portray the courage and patriotism of a Russian soldier. That it can not be broken, even when thousands of detachments of enemies are approaching.
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