The Prairie on Fire 1827

Alvan Fisher's "The Prairie on Fire" (1827) depicts a dramatic scene of a prairie fire engulfing the landscape. The painting, now housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, captures the raw power of nature with its fiery hues and billowing smoke. The figures, likely frontiersmen or travelers, stand in silhouette against the blazing horizon, showcasing the scale of the inferno and the vulnerability of humans in the face of such a natural event. This romantic depiction of the American West reflects the fascination with westward expansion and the sublime grandeur of nature that characterized the era.