The artwork, titled “Burning of Nanchang Airfield,” is a creation by the artist Tsuguharu Foujita, associated with the Magic Realism art movement, and falls within the genre of battle painting.
This piece depicts a vivid and dynamic scene at Nanchang Airfield, capturing the intensity and chaos of a battlefield. The composition foregrounds a bevy of aircraft, with one prominent plane in the right half displaying distinct insignia. Surrounding this are depictions of fire and smoke, suggesting the destruction wrought by bombing or artillery. In the background, numerous planes can be seen in mid-flight and engaging in combat, accentuating the turmoil and fervor of the scene. The overall atmosphere of the artwork conveys the harrowing impact of war. Through meticulous detail and a vibrant palette, Foujita effectively immortalizes a moment of historical conflict, reflecting both the technical prowess and imaginative scope characteristic of Magic Realism.
