This small sketch is dedicated to the tragic pages of the history of the Patriotic War of 1812 and at the same time is filled with deep philosophical meaning. In the foreground is a French soldier, tired and exhausted, but carrying a heavy load—a saddle and horse harness. He has lost his friend and his horse, but the memory of friendship and loyalty proved stronger than fatigue, cold, and the obvious futility of this burden. This image becomes a symbol of personal tragedy, which is immeasurably deeper than dry historical fact. In the distance, you can see the thinning columns of retreating troops, abandoned carts, and the black silhouettes of crows circling in anticipation of their next victims. Frost and hunger turned the once-strong army into shadows of their former selves: soldiers wrapped themselves in any rags they could find to keep from freezing. The painting reminds us that behind every war there are human destinies and feelings, equally acute on both sides of the front. No matter how cruel and ruthless the actions of the invaders in Moscow were — the looting and fires remain forever in the memory of the people — here the emphasis is on something else: on eternal human pain and the memory of loved ones. In this sense, the composition sounds like a philosophical reflection on the price of war and on the ancient saying, “Those who come to us with a sword will perish by the sword.