Ataque de la escuadra Brasileña a las bat. de Curupayti

Executed in oil, the painting combines a naïve, almost folk‑art sensibility with impressionistic handling of light and color. Warm reds and oranges illuminate the burning vessels, while cooler blues and greens recede in the sky and riverbank foliage. Loose brushwork suggests movement and smoke, creating a vivid yet unrefined atmospheric effect.

After its completion, the canvas entered the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, where it remains on display. The museum acquired the piece as part of its effort to preserve works by Argentine artists who documented the nation’s military history, particularly those created by former soldiers turned painters.

The Paraguayan War, one of South America’s deadliest 19th‑century conflicts, saw extensive riverine operations along the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. López’s depiction aligns with contemporary Argentine attempts to process the war’s legacy, reflecting both personal experience and a broader cultural interest in visualizing the nation’s recent past.