Artwork
City Fire
City Fire is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1894 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, *City Fire* is a wood‑engraved print that captures a sudden urban blaze. The image is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Lepère’s role in the late‑19th‑century revival of the medium in Europe.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a city engulfed in flames: collapsing façades, a towering clock tower alight, and billowing smoke dominate the sky. Figures scramble through debris, some fleeing, others assisting one another, conveying the chaos and communal response inherent in a disaster.
Technique & Style
Lepère employs loose, sketch‑like lines and stark contrasts typical of wood engraving, favoring expressive gesture over meticulous detail. The rapid, gestural marks generate a sense of immediacy, emphasizing the volatile energy of the fire rather than precise architectural rendering.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the print entered the market for contemporary prints and eventually was acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its presence in the museum underscores Lepère’s influence on the resurgence of wood‑cut techniques in the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis-Auguste Lepère (30 November 1849 – 20 November 1918) was a French painter and etcher. Lepère is also considered a leader in the creative revival of wood engraving in Europe.
