Luminosity evolution for the MC. Total UV (blue) and IR (red) luminosity as a function of cloud age since the onset of SF. Empty circles show the intrinsic stellar radiation, i.e., ignoring dust absorption. Full circles indicate the median luminosity among the different observing directions considered, whereas the error bars bracket the minimum and maximum luminosity. The shaded area highlights the period when the cloud is dispersed according to the radiation–pressure model from S20 (cf. Sect. 2.3).