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Man Falling from the Sky

Flemish 17th century

1650

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Man Falling from the Sky is a 1650 ink by Flemish 17th century, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Flemish 17th century
When & what style?: 1650 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a man falling headfirst from the sky, arms flailing. Below him, tiny boats float on a calm sea, and a distant shore has a few buildings. The paper looks old, with faint lines running through it, and the ink is mostly brown with some blue shading. The artist used quick, loose lines to show movement—like the man’s twisting body—and left parts sketchy to feel urgent. The boats and shore are small, making the fall look even bigger. Next, check out Baroque for more dramatic, action-packed art like this.