Artwork

Fire Scene by Night

Fire Scene by Night, by Unknown, 1650
Fire Scene by Night, by Unknown, 1650

Fire Scene by Night is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1650, “Fire Scene by Night” is an image attributed to the artist identified as 35452_person. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Rendered in monochrome, it depicts a nocturnal disturbance centered on a burning wooden structure, illuminated against a dark sky.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a small wooden house engulfed in flames, its light spilling onto a gathering of people and animals in the foreground. Figures appear in varied poses—some fleeing, others observing—conveying a moment of collective crisis and the tension between danger and curiosity.

Technique & Style

The image relies on stark contrasts of light and shadow, employing a chiaroscuro approach to model forms and suggest depth. The bright fire serves as a focal point, while the surrounding darkness recedes, creating a dramatic sense of immediacy and spatial hierarchy without the use of color.

History & Provenance

The work dates to the mid‑17th century and has been held by the Museum of Ethnography, though details of its acquisition are not recorded in the provided information. Its attribution to 35452_person remains the primary identifier for the creator.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known