Hoe de slangbrandspuit en pomp in het brandspuithuisje opgeborgen dienen te worden na gebruik, ca. 1750 Possibly 1700 - 1882

This is an engraving, made around 1750 by an anonymous artist, which meticulously depicts how a hose, fire extinguisher, and pump should be stored in a firehouse after use. The image shows an organized scene: tools neatly hung, coiled hoses, and balanced weights. Here we can see a cultural memory echoed in the modern maxim, ‘a place for everything, and everything in its place.’ This reflects not merely a desire for order, but a deeper need to control chaos. Even more, the need to prevent the chaotic destructive force of fire. Throughout history, the symbolism of fire has morphed from a life-giving force to a destructive entity and, here, the tools to control its spread. This reflects a cyclical progression: from the Promethean gift to the modern-day fire brigade, humanity’s dance with fire continues, a potent reminder of our fragile existence.