Nieuwjaarswens van de brandweer van Den Haag voor het jaar 1717 1716 - 1717

This broadside, made in The Hague in 1717 by Pieter van Santen, presents the fire brigade's New Year's wishes to the city's residents. It offers insights into the social and cultural values of the time. The print reveals a society deeply concerned with both earthly and divine matters. The poem expresses hopes for peace, prosperity, and protection from fire, while also invoking God's blessings upon the city's leaders and its inhabitants. References to historical and contemporary events, such as the War of the Spanish Succession, highlight the interconnectedness of local life with broader European affairs. The imagery, featuring coats of arms and symbolic representations of the fire brigade, reinforces the authority and civic role of these institutions. As historians, we can look at municipal archives, church records, and other period publications to understand how different institutions shaped this society and the public role of art. The broadside reminds us that art is always tied to a specific social and institutional context.