Brandende huizen after 1635

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this etching, "Brandende Huizen" or "Burning Houses," made by Frederick Bloemaert sometime after 1635. It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes you first about this print? Editor: The overwhelming feeling is one of utter chaos and desperation. The frantic figures fleeing the inferno against the backdrop of those crudely rendered, burning buildings… it feels viscerally unsettling, like a half-remembered nightmare. Curator: Nightmarish is a perfect descriptor. I’m curious about the symbols that stand out to you. Are there particular forms or arrangements that carry emotional or cultural weight for you? Editor: Definitely the thatch roofs, ablaze. Thatch speaks of a very particular way of life, deeply rooted in the land and in tradition. To see it consumed by fire… it symbolizes the loss of that entire world. And that figure, being carried, her arm outstretched, seemingly accusatory… the image implies so much more than just buildings ablaze. Curator: Bloemaert was working in a Baroque style and seems to have made a study of landscape scenes and history paintings. Looking at the body language, do you read specific emotional content? Editor: Absolute terror. Pure survival instinct driving their movements. Look at the way the dog mirrors their flight. It’s primal. And it makes me wonder – what kind of story did Bloemaert intend to tell? What collective memory was he tapping into? Were there historical events involving similar destructions influencing this imagery? Curator: While it could represent a historical event, Bloemaert may have aimed to present something universal: vulnerability in the face of unforeseen disaster. It's a scene imbued with a deeply unsettling sense of immediacy that allows each viewer to create his or her own meaning. Editor: Indeed, an open invitation to ponder civilization's fragility. Bloemaert's skill transforms mere lines into a raw, urgent experience that lingers. It’s as captivating as it is disturbing. Curator: I agree entirely.