Brandende schouw after 1724

This print of a burning fireplace was made by Georg Lichtensteger in the 18th century. The most striking element here is fire, an ancient symbol of transformation, purification, and destruction, fundamental to both daily life and spiritual rituals. We can trace fire's symbolic weight back to ancient Greece, where it was one of the four classical elements and associated with the gods. Fire, as a motif, finds its echoes in countless works of art and cultural practices across different times. In religious contexts, it represents divine presence, think of the burning bush in the Old Testament. Here, Lichtensteger presents fire as a source of domestic comfort, framed by ornate carvings. The flickering flames engage us on a primal level, reminding us of our ancestors gathering around the hearth for warmth and safety. This image speaks to our collective memory. The motif of fire has moved through time, continually reshaped by cultural, social, and psychological forces. What was once a sacred symbol is now a source of comfort, demonstrating the cyclical, ever-evolving nature of symbols.