“Soldiers with Bread” is an artwork created by Marc Chagall in 1915, employing the mediums of gouache, watercolor, and cardboard. It is an exemplary piece within the Expressionism movement, categorized under the genre painting. The dimensions of the artwork are 50.5 by 37.5 centimeters.
The artwork portrays two soldiers in military attire, each carrying loaves of bread. The soldier in the foreground is depicted in a frontal pose, while the one in the background is seen from behind. The compositional elements and color palette used by Chagall convey a sense of simplicity and hardship. The bold outlines embody the Expressionist style, capturing an emotive tension within a seemingly everyday scenario. The use of gouache and watercolor lends a soft, fluid quality to the artwork, while the cardboard base introduces texture and depth. The visual narrative encapsulates both the human condition and the somber realities of the period.