“They Are Burning Everything – They must be about to Retreat” c. 1919

“They Are Burning Everything – They must be about to Retreat” is a charcoal drawing by the French artist Jean-Louis Forain, created around 1919. The work depicts a chaotic scene of a fleeing family amidst a burning city, with the smoke from the flames engulfing the sky. The dramatic composition and expressive lines of the drawing convey the urgency and despair of the moment, capturing the raw reality of war-torn landscapes. Forain's work is known for its satirical and critical approach to social issues, and this drawing is a poignant testament to the suffering caused by the First World War.