Constantijn de Grote laat verzoekschriften verbranden 1801

Reinier Vinkeles created this artwork of Constantine the Great ordering the burning of petitions. It resides at the Rijksmuseum. Here we see Constantine, enthroned and holding a scepter, overseeing the destruction of documents. Fire, often a symbol of purification or destruction, rises from a large brazier, consuming the pleas of the people. This act can be interpreted as Constantine consolidating power, erasing dissent, but what resonates across time is how symbols are vessels that transport and transform meaning. Consider fire: from ancient rituals where offerings were burned to appease gods, to modern-day protests where symbols of oppression are set ablaze. The act of burning signifies a desire for change, a purging of the old to make way for the new. This primal act, deeply embedded in our collective memory, engages viewers on a subconscious level, evoking intense emotions tied to transformation and renewal. The symbol of erasure, however, is a recurring motif. It resurfaces in various forms throughout history and reminds us of the cyclical nature of power.