Twee uitgebrande huizen in de Oude Nieuwstraat, 1682 1690 - 1735

This print from 1682 by Jan van der Heyden depicts two houses ravaged by fire in the Oude Nieuwstraat. Notice the stark contrast between the skeletal remains of the burnt house and the relative order of its neighbor, a juxtaposition that serves as a potent memento mori. Fire, a symbol of both destruction and purification, carries complex meanings across cultures. In ancient Greece, it was linked to Prometheus and the gift of knowledge. Yet, consider its destructive power in the burning of the Library of Alexandria. Fire appears time and time again through history. Each time fire reappears in art it carries with it these past representations, layering them in our subconscious as a potent symbol. The etching invites us to confront our anxieties about destruction, yet subtly reminds us of the potential for renewal inherent in this elemental force. The scene engages our emotions on a subconscious level, echoing the collective memory of societal and personal losses.