Open full image Pin

People Fleeing from a Fire

Unknown

1742

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Ukiyo-e 18th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

People Fleeing from a Fire is a 1742 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1742 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a chaotic scene of people fleeing from a fire. The crowd is densely packed, with individuals in various poses, some running and others trying to escape the flames. The background is a blurred, darkened landscape, with hints of buildings and trees visible through the smoke. In the foreground, the figures are more defined, with some wearing traditional Japanese clothing. The overall mood is one of panic and urgency, as the people scramble to get away from the inferno. This painting is a great example of the dramatic use of light and shadow, a technique known as chiaroscuro.