La Parapluie de ma Tante

A fire in the background of this painting causes dark billows of smoke to loom over crumbling buildings, walls, and statues. The landscape dwarfs the four female figures running wildly down a derelict street, their legs kicked back and their arms raised as they race towards the fire. High above the ground, a man rescues an umbrella caught in telephone wires. The strong lines demonstrate Washington, DC artist Prentiss Taylor’s skillful exploration of depth and hints at his training as a lithographer, while the title—translated from French as “My Aunt’s Umbrella”—identifies the umbrella’s owner.