Banal Death

How exaggerated the death poses where, shows the painting "Dead Soldiers" (1866) by Adolf von Menzel.


Menzel (1815-1905) was one of the most important German realist painters of the 19th century. He became famous with his history paintings dealing with the life and deeds of Frederick the Great.
As an official artist Menzel accompanied 1866 the prussian troops in the war against Austria. By this occasion he saw for the first time dead soldiers. He was horrorized und wrote later of his "naive imprudence" while painting battle paintings.
He never more painted any battles.