Reclame voor de Fire Insurance New York Underwriters Agency met een foto van brand 1905

De Witt C. Wheeler created this image, a photograph, back in 1905, and it's a whole scene: smoke billowing, a crowd of onlookers, and hoses snaking across the ground. I wonder what it was like for Wheeler to be there, camera in hand, amidst all that chaos. Was he thinking about composition, light, or maybe just trying to capture the drama unfolding before him? The image has a muted palette, all grays and browns, which kinda adds to the somber mood. You can almost smell the smoke and feel the heat radiating from the fire. And look at the way the figures are arranged, all turned towards the blaze, their faces obscured, like they are watching a performance. It's like Wheeler is reminding us of the unpredictable nature of life, how quickly things can change. And maybe, just maybe, nudging us to consider the importance of, well, fire insurance. Anyway, artists are always in dialogue, building upon the work of those who came before, and I appreciate the way this image captures a moment in time. It suggests how art reflects and refracts our experiences back at us.