Frederic Remington’s painting “Attack on the Supply Train,” created in 1885, is an Impressionist battle painting depicting a scene filled with intense action and vivid imagery. The artwork portrays a moment of combat, showcasing soldiers or fighters dynamically engaging in an attack.
In the artwork, a group of individuals, clad in various uniforms and armed with rifles, are seen defending a series of covered wagons, likely a supply train. They appear to be in the midst of a skirmish, with some taking aim and firing their weapons, while others prepare to engage. The scene is characterized by a sense of urgency and chaos, as the defenders strive to protect their convoy from an unseen enemy. The background consists of a horizon lined with mountains, possibly depicting the open landscapes of the American West, a common theme in Remington’s works. The use of light and color, indicative of the Impressionist movement, gives the painting a lively, almost real-time quality despite its historical subject matter.