Vasily Vereshchagin's powerful artwork captures a moment rife with tension and urgency. The composition draws the viewer's gaze to a lone figure—a soldier—who appears to be fleeing from an unseen onslaught, clenching his abdomen in a manner that evokes both pain and desperation. The background is almost ethereal, filled with a smoky haze that obscures the chaos behind him, hinting at both the violence of battle and the fragility of life. The muted colors of his uniform contrast sharply with the stark background, enhancing the emotional weight of the moment.