Gezicht op een stadsbrand bij nacht 1881

Charles Courtry made this print, titled "A View of a City Fire at Night," using etching techniques. During Courtry's lifetime, the rapid industrialization and urbanization of Europe led to overcrowded cities, where fires posed a significant threat, often disproportionately affecting the working class. "A View of a City Fire at Night," portrays a scene of chaos and destruction, capturing the vulnerability of urban life amidst industrial progress. Courtry lived through the Franco-Prussian War. Therefore, the theme of destruction portrayed in this artwork may also reflect the societal anxieties and traumas of the period. However, the print transcends a straightforward depiction of disaster. It invites us to consider broader questions about urbanization, industrialization, class disparity, and the emotional toll of living in an era defined by rapid change and uncertainty. The etching provides a powerful meditation on the fragility of human life.