Site of a Fire

Site of a Fire is a significant etching created by the German Romantic master Caspar David Friedrich. Executed on wove paper, the technical classification specifies this impression as the second state, demonstrating Friedrich’s meticulous process in developing the printed image. Although primarily known for his sublime oil paintings, Friedrich periodically explored graphic arts, treating the etching plate with the atmospheric depth characteristic of his other works.

The subject matter aligns closely with Romantic interests in ruin, melancholy, and the sublime power of natural forces, depicting a somber, perhaps desolate scene of destruction or transformation. Friedrich uses the fine lines of etching to render dramatic contrast between light and shadow, capturing a palpable sense of solitude and vast space typical of his compositions. This piece reveals the artist’s skill in adapting the linear qualities of prints to convey the emotional intensity usually reserved for his canvases.

This important example of German Romantic printmaking is held within the esteemed collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The accessibility of such works ensures wider scholarship concerning Friedrich’s technical breadth beyond painting. As the artwork is categorized as being in the public domain, high-quality images and information concerning this work and other Friedrich prints are widely accessible for study, preserving the legacy of the artist’s complete graphic contributions.