Brand van de Regulierspoort te Amsterdam, 1618-1619 1722 - 1784

Curator: My goodness, it's chaotic, isn't it? A whirlwind of smoky greys and gesturing figures... I'd almost call it beautiful if it wasn't, well, a disaster unfolding. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at a drawing entitled "Brand van de Regulierspoort te Amsterdam, 1618-1619" - "The Fire at the Regulierspoort in Amsterdam," created by Simon Fokke sometime between 1722 and 1784. It's rendered in ink on paper and currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Curator: Fokke's choice of medium enhances that sense of urgency; the scratchy lines really convey movement and heat. It's almost as if he sketched this live as the events transpired. Editor: It’s compelling how Fokke offers us not just a depiction of the fire, but a glimpse into the social dynamics of the event. The figures in the foreground, a mix of responders and onlookers, invite reflection. The lines articulate clear power dynamics with gendered and class implications. Curator: Absolutely. There’s almost a performance unfolding, the drama accentuated by the perspectival play. See how the city gate looms large, framed by what is obviously the beginning of a really awful, uncontrolled blaze, drawing all eyes, ours included, right towards that historical catastrophe. Editor: This piece prompts several critical questions for our audience. In terms of urban development, we have to ask how did 17th century regulations regarding safety or material contribute to the situation? Who suffered the most from the fire, and how did class or social standing determine how one was impacted by such disasters? Curator: All such great entry points for our audiences to dig into! It really speaks to this persistent tension within the representation of tragedy, doesn't it? Is it spectacle, history, a study of resilience, or a grim reminder of systemic issues...perhaps it is, unsettlingly, all those at once? Editor: It layers the historical moment and then Simon Fokke comes along and centuries later we are trying to pick it apart to understand the lives of these individuals and communities, even those we never get to know. Curator: That's it exactly! Like a visual echo resonating across time. Let’s leave people to contemplate that a bit more as they wander off towards our next piece.