Fire's on
Arthur Streeton captures the brutal reality of Australian labor in this sun-baked masterpiece from 1891. The scene depicts the aftermath of a deadly dynamite explosion during the construction of a railway tunnel in the Blue Mountains, with the title referencing the frantic warning cry shouted by workers. Smoke billows from the dark tunnel entrance while tiny figures scramble across the rugged, ochre landscape, perfectly embodying the Australian Impressionist style with its harsh light and loose brushwork. It's a stunning, tragic snapshot of nation-building that hangs proudly in the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Art Gallery of New South Wales
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