Art Explained by a Writer: The Barricade (1918)
I thought we'd be standing on the barricades, but this isn't what I had in mind.
You're at the front, aren't you? You're the face of this? Stop whingeing, mate, be glad you got the job.
Look at us standing here with our hands up like a bunch of idiots. How much longer will this nonsense last? I'm hungry, so much to do. I want to try out my new radio.
I'm expecting the deliveryman with a new piano. Reckon we'll need to move the fridge, otherwise the piano won't fit. Could really do with a drink. Are your arms killing you, too? Who in God's name stands like this with their arms in the air, pulling these bloody stupid poses they're making us do?
I'm freezing... how much longer? Can't be arsed to stand here for days. I expected the painter to make a sketch, and then we'd be done.
Oi, you with the Hitler haircut – why are you even in the middle? I thought we were meant to form a shield wall, like footballers do in defence.
It's taking ages, absolutely ages... pfffff, how much longer?
Look at your hands, they're bright red, just like mine. Blood circulation's cut off, don't reckon standing like this is healthy.
Gentlemen, may I say something? I'm freezing. Can't we do something about it? That painter's taking forever, and why are we meant to be playing Belgians? They definitely don't look like this. Shall we do a little dance? Since our hands are up anyway? Who's in? We could do like temple dancers or the tango?
Oi, Marie? Stop wiggling your arse. I'm getting properly warm in this stuffy costume, and standing hunched over is giving me a backache. Anyone fancy helping me up straight afterwards?
These barricades... hey, painter, how much longer, and what are you calling this painting? Will it be 'Exodus' or something else? Doubt you'll ever be famous for this. We all look daft. With warped bodies and weird poses. It looks quite obscene. What will people think of us if this painting ever ends up in a museum?"
An oil on canvas painting inspired by an incident in August 1914 where German soldiers used Belgian townspeople as human shields.
17.8.25
Painter: George Wesley Bellows
Painting: The Barricade (1918) - public domain
The contest Art & Writing is hosted by @solperez
Exodus - @almaguer, @suryati1, @jiya99
I'm amazed by the ideas that come to you just from looking at a painting. Which is brilliant, and I enjoy it. It's a great painting, especially because I imagine it must have been the scandal of that era. Even in literature, references to nudity weren't allowed (at least not in commercial literature).
It's a story I've read twice.
0.00 SBD,
0.02 STEEM,
0.02 SP
Look at the poses of the arms and legs, there's something odd about it as if those naked people aren't real and have nothing to do with the sceneray behind it.
There's no begging for their life, no fear expressed...
And in the middle it feels there's a jesus and hitler standing side to side and jesus his hand (wrist) is tied by himself (his own hand cleches his wrist).
It feels as if the painter has no idea what naked people look like, how people scared and begging for their lives, used as human shields, would stand or look like and if this group is later added. It's more theatre than reality shown that could impress what happened back then.
It reminds me of that song How Strange of The Hu.
♥️🍀
Melihat pemandangan seperti ini, aku pernah melihat di buku sejarah, bahwa saat perang dulu ada orang-orang yang di gantung dan di siksa dengan membelah dada dan sebagainya namun aku sungguh lupa entah peperangan apa namanya sehingga begitu mengerikan saat saya melihatnya.
Ini seperti patung dan banyak para tentara bersembunyi di belakangnya,...anda sungguh sangat luar biasa dalam menulis dengan melihat gambar, saya sangat kagum sekali, kemapuan seperti ini tidak semua orang memilikinya, termasuk saya..
Terimakasih temanku atas undangannya semoga anda beruntung 🙏🌹