Vuur 1670 - 1724

Jacob Gole created this engraving titled 'Vuur', or 'Fire', sometime between 1660 and 1737. It depicts a woman standing beside a brazier, presumably supervising the cooking of sweetmeats. This image, made in the Netherlands, gives us a glimpse into the social conventions of the period. We can see the stylish clothing of the woman: the high fontage headdress, the elaborate dress and the fashionable lace. This imagery speaks to the social structure of the time, where the visual display of wealth and status was of great importance. The art institutions of the time, like the Guilds, would have played a key role in the production and distribution of such images, shaping artistic tastes and practices. If we want to understand the nuances of this print better, we might consult period recipe books, fashion plates and guild records. These would further contextualize the artwork and help us to appreciate the historical significance of this seemingly simple domestic scene.