[December 15, 2025] I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some of the greatest art galleries in Europe and America, and I’m forever grateful for that opportunity. Yet, no matter how much I write about or see, I’m often amazed by the depth of meaning in the many works of art across the West. One recently making headlines is a painting called ‘Anguish’ by August Friedrich Schenck.
This oil painting by Schenck is brilliant. Standing at 1.5 meters tall and over 2.5 meters wide, ‘Anguish’ depicts a mother sheep crying out in pain as her lifeless lamb lies on a snowy bed, while a murder of crows swarms ominously around her. Painted by August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck around 1878, this scene powerfully demonstrates art’s ability to evoke deep emotions.
“Schenck’s animal subjects were seen as a metaphor for society and were very successful. Indeed, during the late 19th century, death was very fashionable, partly because Queen Victoria mourned her late husband, Prince Albert. At that time, suffering was widespread throughout society.” – Montaine Dumont, Daily Art Magazine
Anguish (French: Angoisses or Angoisse) is an 1878 oil painting by August Friedrich Schenck.
Why is it that when we see this painting that it draws on our emotions? Those who see this painting are immediately awed by it, and in much the same way, we are saddened. Schenck helps us “see” the unknowns of emotions, and does so without us understanding how or why. This fact suggests something about the human capacity that goes beyond what is immediately obvious.
One lesson from life is that we must be alert to the beauty around us, as there is little of greater value. Such a statement might seem nonsensical and naïve, but recognizing beauty for what it is is on the same mental level as distinguishing between good and evil. This represents a form of wisdom, which we all have, but unfortunately, we often suppress it.
What is most remarkable about great works of art is that their value grows over time. “Value” here means more than just money; it’s a part of existence that stands out. Any artwork that can evoke our emotions approaches the divine. A great painting can become more than just the canvas it’s painted on. It represents a beauty that supports our entire dynamic culture.
‘Anguish’ really resonates with me. It opens my eyes to the highest part of the human spirit, the transcendent, beyond our everyday life. We need the window into the transcendent that such art offers. Most of us are unaware of our ignorance, and that is a realization we must face.
Great art helps restore our sense of balance with the world. It is genuine, so genuine that it aids us in overcoming the suffering caused by tragedies and malevolence that life throws at us. Dr. Jordan Peterson often speaks about this, and I suggest listening to him discuss various forms of beauty and their effects on us (see his interview with Oz here).
“When the fathers of the Christian Church were trying to understand God, to conceptualize God, he is seen as the sum of all good. What’s the highest value? It’s the sum of all good. It’s the integration of beauty and truth and justice … and so beauty is a window into that highest good. It’s a pointer to it. Of course [beauty] is vital because what could possibly more important than a pointer that is immune to rational criticism of the higher good.” – Dr. Jordan Peterson
According to Dr. Peterson, art calls us to a higher motive being, and it does so beneath rationality. By that, he means that beauty is at least partly the remedy for malevolent rationality and the evils of cynicism.
Very little is known about the artist of this masterpiece. Born in 1828 in Glückstadt, Denmark (now part of Germany), August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck moved to Paris to study at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts.
He spent most of his career there, focusing on painting landscapes and distressed animals, mainly sheep, which were seen as a metaphor for human relationships. Therefore, the depiction of sheep, such as struggling with the elements, is a common motif for the artist. Thanks to his skills, he was even awarded the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
Art like ‘Anguish’ reflects the goodness of the world and calls us to grow beyond ourselves, encouraging us to be better and kind, while rejecting darkness and evil. It accomplishes this by guiding us toward the good.
What could be better than that?
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Sir, this is a great painting and in my mind the reason is that it elicits the emotion of sadness. Maybe sadness is not the right word, but i think you get the drift of my meaning. Any piece of art that can do this is great in my book. That is, I believe, an indication that art is more than art but a window of sorts into the person. I know you’ve written on this before, so I’ll highlight that fact for others. This is why the obvious might always not be so obvious.
Gen. Satterfield is more aware of what art can do for us than most. Great article and more than I would have thought possible on a leadership website. 🤠
Sad. In 1878, Schenck produced what would become his signature piece, ‘Anguish’. This shows a ewe standing over the body of her dead lamb: eyes pointed upward, the sheep exhales visibly, signalling its despair.
The central image calls to mind a mother mourning the death of a child. But the harsh edge of nature is not far away; a murder of crows watches on, waiting for their chance to make a meal of the deceased lamb.
A metre and a half tall, and over two metres high, ‘Anguish’ makes quite an impression on its audience.
It is a dramatically sad painting, not shy about its intentions; this is not a subtle work. But highly effective in its ambition to engender empathy.
The ewe shows human traits not just with its emotional response to death, but also its helplessness before nature. Again, Schenck has put a sheep in a recognisably human situation and forced his audience to consider the connection.
‘No matter what your response is, [this] is a work that makes people stop in their tracks.’
– Ted Gott, Senior Curator, NGV
BC, good comment. All the best for you and England. Unfortunately, England has a great history but lately has been trending downhill.
WOW WOW WOW, what a great painting. Any art that calls for an emotional response (other than revolting and there plenty of them) is great. Let us hold them dear to us.
How could we overlook such a priceless piece of art?
We didn’t overlook it, and in fact, we’ve highlighted it by the very fact we are discussing it here on the pages of Gen. Doug Satterfield’s blog re: leadership. That is why I think this website is a leadership go-to place to go and read so many different and divergent opinions on what is good in the world. Much like Gen. Satterfield’s book ‘55 rules for a good life’, I am drawn in by the ancient wisdom of what is inside us humans and what makes us more than we think we could be.
Linux Man,point well made. We are drawn to great art (literature, paintings, poems, statues, etc.). That is the human condition. It forces us to compare ourselves to it, and we come up deficient. That strikes fear into those who cannot ever measure up. Those who “protest” against the West and destroy statues (ie., art) are those who know they will never measure up to the simple decency standards we have in the West.
The painting was presented at the Salon of 1878 where it aroused strong emotions in visitors. Reproduced many times, it has been kept in the collections of the National Museum of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia since 1880.
Masterpiece Story: Anguish by August Friedrich Schenck
MONTAINE DUMONT 18 SEPTEMBER 2024
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/anguish-by-august-schenck/
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BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING
Like you, Gen. Satterfield, I never heard of this painter before. And, please continue making us aware of such great works of art, even if they are relatively unknown. 👀