Brand in de kermiskramen op het Buitenhof te Den Haag, 1758 1758

Caspar Jacobsz. Philips created this drawing of the fire in the fairground booths at the Buitenhof in The Hague, 1758. The dominant symbol here is fire, an elemental force, both destructive and transformative. This primal motif ignites deep within our collective memory, echoing tales from antiquity. Think of the myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods, bringing enlightenment, but also inviting divine retribution. Fire's dual nature—creation and destruction—has been depicted across cultures and eras, symbolizing purification, passion, and devastation. Here, the frenzied activity around the blaze suggests not only immediate danger but also evokes a deeper, subconscious anxiety about loss and change. Note how the figures in Philips's drawing seem almost compelled by the flames, an indication of fire’s captivating yet terrifying power. This echoes similar depictions throughout art history, where fire serves as a powerful reminder of human vulnerability and the cyclical nature of existence, perpetually resurfacing to test our resilience.