The artwork titled “To escape forest fires they enter a volcanic cavern” by Henry Darger, an eminent figure within the Art Brut movement, falls under the genre of illustration.
In the artwork, a fantastical and evocative scene is depicted, split into three main panels. In the first panel, a group of children are seen entering a dark volcanic cavern to evade an enormous dragon, symbolizing the destructive forest fires outside. The middle panel portrays a dramatic landscape where towering columns of smoke loom ominously over the forest as the fires rage on, conveying a sense of chaos and urgency. In the third and final panel, a surreal environment is depicted with soldiers engaged in combat within a building, while children watch or flee, adding an additional layer of narrative complexity and tension to the overall composition. The detailed and vibrant illustrations, marked by Darger’s unique and intricate artistic style, engage the viewer in a vivid and imaginative world filled with both danger and wonder.
