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The Common Grave, from War: Mystical Images of War

A work made of lithograph on cream wove paper.
© 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

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  • A work made of lithograph on cream wove paper.

Date:

1914

Artist:

Natalia Goncharova
Russian, 1881-1962

About this artwork

This landscape of dead bodies fittingly concludes the series by addressing the unfortunate fate of so many soldiers. In this series, the angels serve as divine guides to lead forces into battle and meet the dead at the outcome. In 1914 this print could only anticipate the end of the war several years in the future. Still the image boldly asserts death as the great equalizer. Here angular limbs and uniforms crisscross in a chaotic shallow grave. The space is ringed with flying birds and arching mounds that might represent either the clouds of heaven or the landscape of bomb craters on Earth.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Natalia Goncharova

Title

The Common Grave, from War: Mystical Images of War

Place

Russia (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1914

Medium

Lithograph on cream wove paper

Dimensions

24.8 × 32.6 cm (9 13/16 × 12 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Margaret Fisher Endowment

Reference Number

1992.4.13

Copyright

© 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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