Gassed (1919) John Singer Sargent

          There is an overall impression on the painting Gassed, (1919) by John Singer Sargent, of loss and suffering in war. In the painting, many men are seen dead and dying on the ground due to the release of Mustard gas during World War I. at the main viewpoint of the painting about 10 men are showed completely blindfolded and being guided to what we can assume is a medical tent not pictured in the painting. These men had also been struck by mustard gas but have lost their eyesight and rely on one another to guide each other through the war ground. With one hand on each others shoulders, they slowly make their way across the terrain without any sight at all and the only help being each other and the not uniformed solider showing the line where to walk to. One man towards the end of the line, is facing in the opposite direction of the moving line of men, showing the extremity of the mustard gasses effects on soldiers eyesight, having to lose it completely in the face of war. The entire painting has a yellowish-brown color scheme to it, showing the last effects that the mustard gas will have on these men, having no sight anymore, for the rest of their life. From this painting, it has come to me that war will always have a lasting effect on everyone effected by it, no matter how long ago it may have been. It can be proven true through the numerous amounts of soldiers lost, and their families being without them for the rest of their lives. Even within the soldiers themselves whether physically leaving men and women without their senses, like in the painting, or lasting mental health issues like PTSD, war will always be a part of them, forever. With many difference in war nowadays to war back then, like in World War I, one thing will remain the same; one you're involved in it, you can never get away from it. War never changes.