Painting “Military telegram”, Vasnetsov 
- Author: Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov
- Museum: Tretyakov Gallery
- Year: 1878
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Overview of the painting :
Military telegram – Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. 1878. Oil on canvas
A group of citizens at a new telegram with a review of military news. This is the plot of the painting by Vasnetsov “Military telegram”. Among the townspeople there is a retired policeman, a girl “from educated”, peasant workers, a cabman, a couple of noble masters. Military news interests everyone. One reads aloud, others listen carefully.
The only girl in the picture stands in the center of the group. The face is frightened, bewildered. Perhaps her fiancé or brother is fighting. The rest, regardless of their position in society, carefully listen to the “reader”. The news is not encouraging, but disturbing. It is raining, however, only one of those present has an umbrella. The rest do not notice him. The wet bridge fuzzyly reflects a gray and dull street. War is invisibly present in the picture.
The artist does not accidentally use inexpressive, dim colors: gray, brown. They create an atmosphere of tension and fear.