Ministerie van Marine te Den Haag, tijdens de brand van 1844 1844

This print, by an anonymous artist, captures the burning Ministry of the Navy in The Hague in 1844. The image offers a glimpse into the social dynamics of the time. The naval ministry, a symbol of Dutch power and global reach, is engulfed in flames. But our attention is drawn to the crowd of onlookers, a mix of uniformed figures and civilians, who seem powerless against the inferno. The event took place during a period of social and political unrest in the Netherlands, when the old order was being challenged by new ideas about democracy and social justice. We might wonder if the fire was a random event or if it was related to a wider dissatisfaction with the government? The print invites us to reflect on the relationship between those in power and the citizens they govern. The artist asks us to consider the ephemerality of institutions.