Fire by Night 1636 - 1664

Editor: So, this is Egbert van der Poel’s "Fire by Night," painted sometime between 1636 and 1664, using oil on wood. The monochrome palette and depiction of destruction give it a really somber feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the materiality of disaster, quite literally. Van der Poel wasn’t just painting a scene; he was crafting an object laden with the implications of widespread destruction. Notice how the paint itself mimics the smoke and ash. Consider, too, the ready availability of wood as a common material. Was the cheapness or the abundance of wooden supports of that time conducive to making paintings documenting such horrific events? Editor: That's interesting. It's like the low cost and availability of the wood supported the documentation of catastrophe. Does that impact how we see genre or history painting at that time? Curator: Precisely. Van der Poel’s choice of a mundane support like wood infuses the “high art” genre of history painting with the grim reality of daily life. Moreover, what impact does this piece have on the people and patrons who commissioned, viewed, and later, consumed it? Editor: So, it challenges our expectations of who gets to represent history and how. Was van der Poel implying something about social hierarchy here? Curator: Indeed. Think about the labour involved in creating the artwork versus the labour lost in the depicted fire. Consider also the monetary support of a patron: where would those finances be best directed? This juxtaposition invites reflection on the very systems that support both art and society, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. It's made me reconsider how seemingly simple material choices can carry profound social commentary. Thanks, I have something to think about. Curator: Likewise. Looking at the artist's choice and means of production and support opens an intriguing path into social criticism.