Artwork
Paddling the Wounded British Officer
Paddling the Wounded British Officer is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Frederic Remington. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Paddling the Wounded British Officer is a genre painting by Frederic Remington, executed in oil on canvas in 1897. The work is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a somber, post-conflict scene: a paddler in a canoe exerts himself while a wounded, bandaged companion slumps behind, conveying exhaustion and the aftermath of battle.
Technique & Style
Remington employed thick, expressive brushstrokes and impasto to capture the dynamic movement of the water, contrasting with the subdued, blurred backdrop of trees and dark river.
History & Provenance
Inspired by his visit to Cuba during the Spanish-American War, where he sketched soldiers for U.S. newspapers without witnessing combat firsthand, Remington created this piece in 1897. It is now held by the Art Institute of Chicago.
Context
Though Remington did not experience combat personally, his observations of soldiers during the war informed this work, focusing on the quiet, human moment following battle rather than the conflict itself.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in the genre of Western American Art.
