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Explosion of a Grenade (L'Explosion d'une grenade)

Gerhardus Emaus de Micault

1854

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century Battle

Dominant colour

Explosion of a Grenade (L'Explosion d'une grenade) is a 1854 ink by Gerhardus Emaus de Micault, a Impressionism work, depicting Battle, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gerhardus Emaus de Micault
When & what style?: 1854 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a grenade mid-explosion in dark smoke against a pale sky. The artist adds a human figure in the bottom left, barely visible, to give scale. This makes the blast feel more real, not just a science experiment. Explosions were rare in art then. People mostly showed battles or quiet scenes. Here, the quiet figure and violent puff of smoke clash in a way that feels modern. Look up "etching" to see how lines cut into metal make these sharp shadows.